51. Audrey Louise5 Melvin (Roy Stevenson4, Robert Stevenson3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Omaha, Nebraska September 10, 1916. Audrey died June 21, 2006 in Kirkland, Washington, at 89 years of age.
Audrey Louise married Johnny Thomas Cooper Sr. in Seattle, Washington, July 7, 1947. Johnny was born in Shelby County, Alabama April 27, 1916. Johnny died July 16, 1996 in Portland, Oregon, at 80 years of age. His body was interred in Yamhill, Oregon.
Note: Johnny abandoned the family in 1965. Heresay indicates that he had been in a very serious horse accident in 1975 and suffered from head injury for many years before he died.
Audrey Louise Melvin and Johnny Thomas Cooper Sr. had the following children:
64 ii. Johnny Thomas Cooper Jr., was born in El Monte, California March 12, 1944.
65 iii. Paul Emmett Cooper, was born in Huntington Park, California June 27, 1946.
66 iv. Carol Jeanne Cooper, was born in Seattle, Washington January 4, 1949.
52. Richard Ernest5 Melvin (Roy Stevenson4, Robert Stevenson3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Florence, Nebraska October 13, 1919. Richard died November 25, 2004 in Pierre, South Dakota, at 85 years of age.
Richard Ernest married Donna Lee Thompson in Pierre, South Dakota, May 1, 1950. Donna was born in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota September 9, 1929. Donna died February 19, 2011 at 81 years of age.
Richard Ernest Melvin and Donna Lee Thompson had the following children:
+ 67 i. Kathryn Louise6 Melvin, was born June 16, 1951.
+ 68 ii. Larry Allen Melvin, was born June 10, 1954.
56. Robert Willis5 Maahs (Katherine Louise4 Melvin, Robert Stevenson3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Los Angeles, California May 23, 1937.
Robert Willis married twice. He married Arlene Irene Rabe in Los Angeles, California, June 21, 1957. Arlene was born in Los Angeles County, California November 24, 1938. Arlene died May 16, 1997 in Hortonville, Wisconsin, at 58 years of age. He married Helen McCoy in Puyallup, Washington, March 4, 2000.
Robert Willis Maahs and Arlene Irene Rabe had the following children:
+ 70 ii. Cheryl Lyn Maahs, was born June 21, 1960.
57. Howard Gordon5 Maahs (Katherine Louise4 Melvin, Robert Stevenson3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Hollywood, California May 16, 1939. Howard died July 2, 2006 in Richmond, Virginia, at 67 years of age.
Howard Gordon married twice. He married Carol Jean Larson in Seattle, Washington, June 13, 1962. Carol was born in Tomahawk, Wisconsin January 16, 1940. He married Dola Jean Haracivet in Newport News, Virginia, January 27, 1979. Dola was born in Sumter, South Carolina March 17, 1944. Children from 2nd Wife, Dola Jean Haracivet Stepdaughters: Dola Leslie Young born September 9, 1971; Kelly Elizabeth Young born April 23, 1974.
Note: Howard visited Scotland in May of 2002 where he did research on the Melvin lineage. He did extensive research on John and Fanny Stevenson Melvin where much of the data on the Melvin ancestry comes from.
Howard continued his genealogy research in Germany in 2003 and 2004. This was on Hans Carl Freiedrick Jipp and his ancestors and is a major part of that genealogy report. He also researched in Germany some Gottsch ancestors and shared it with William R. Gottsch.
Obituary:
NEWPORT NEWS - Howard Gordon Maahs, 67, died July 2, 2006 at 5 p.m. surrounded by his family at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond after a nine-year battle against an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Born in Los Angeles, Calif. on May 16, 1939, Dr. Maahs was the son of the late Willis George Maahs and Katherine Louise Melvin Maahs. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Loretta Carol Maahs. He is survived by his wife, Dola Jean Haracivet Young Maahs; his brother, Robert Willis Maahs of Hortonville, Wis. and four children, Kendra Louise Lacy and her husband, Chris Lacy of Woodbridge, Va., Jennifer Paige Zettler and her husband, Chris Zettler of Oakton, Va., Cynthia Jean Morath and her husband, Ray Morath of Reston, Va., and Gordon Lewis Maahs of Washington, D.C., and by his two step-daughters, D. Leslie Young of Kitty Hawk, N.C., and Kelly Elizabeth Young of Alexandria, Va. He is also survived by three granddaughters, Loretta Lacy, Susanna Lacy and Annabel Lacy; plus many cousins, nieces and very dear friends. He was above all a devoted family man, kind and caring of others, to family and non-family alike.
He was raised in Los Angeles until, at age 16, he entered Stanford University where he received a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. Thereafter he earned his Ph.D., also in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., where he met and married his first wife, Carol Larson, mother of his five children. In 1964, he relocated to the Peninsula to take a position as a research engineer with NASA-Langley Research Center. After 35 years with NASA, he retired in 1999 as a branch head for advanced materials development.
He attended Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church and various other churches in his continual search for religious understanding and spiritual fulfillment. Special interests included religious thought and natural philosophy, fine art, music (self-taught in five instruments), travel, skiing and genealogy. His most recent passion was that of documenting the lives and times of all his European ancestors before and after they immigrated to America.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 Wednesday, July 5 at Altmeyer Funeral Home in Denbigh. A funeral service will be conducted at noon Thursday, July 6 at the same location. Burial will be at Peninsula Memorial Park directly following the service. The family extends thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Medical College of Virginia for their compassionate and superior service. Special thanks to those in the ICU and the Palliative Care Unit. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation or other organizations that aid in the search for a cure for prostate cancer. Arrangements are under the care of Altmeyer Funeral Home - Denbigh Chapel, 12893 Jefferson Ave nue, Newport News, VA 23608.
Howard Gordon Maahs and Carol Jean Larson had the following children:
73 ii. Loretta Carol Maahs, was born in Hampton, Virginia March 3, 1968. Loretta died October 28, 1968 in Richmond, Virginia, at less than one year of age. Her body was interred October 31, 1968 in Newport News, Va.
74 iii. Jennifer Paige Maahs, was born in Newport News, Virginia August 17, 1969. She married Christopher Zettler in Fairfax, Virginia, September 10, 2004. Christopher was born in Brooklyn, New York January 19, 1967. Jennifer and Christopher divorced in 2007.
+ 75 iv. Cynthia Jean Maahs, was born June 18, 1971.
+ 76 v. Gordon Lewis Maahs, was born in April 30, 1974.
58. Caroline Elizabeth5 Fockler (Caroline Jipp4 Melvin, Robert Stevenson3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Omaha, Nebraska May 9, 1916. Caroline died January 28, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona at 94 years of age.
Caroline Elizabeth married twice. She married John J. Van Hoozer Sr. in Papillion, Nebraska, April 30, 1934. John was born in Iowa on March 23 1914. John died July 16, 1980 in Sarasota, Florida, at 66 years of age. She married Joseph N. Godec in Omaha, Nebraska, March 11, 1949. Joseph was born in Basalt, Colorado February 9, 1917. Joseph died October 31, 1977 in Omaha, Nebraska, at 60 years of age.
Caroline Elizabeth Fockler and John J. Van Hoozer Sr. had the following child:
Caroline Elizabeth Fockler and Joseph N. Godec had the following children:
Obituary
William Dean Hudson, born September 5, 1951 in Algona, Iowa, crossed over peacefully from lung cancer at the age of sixty-five on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.
He is survived by his beloved wife of forty-two years, Kathleen, his mother, Dorris Asa, siblings: Thomas Hudson, Jayne German and Holly Stange. Niece and nephews: Matthew Duncan, Joshua Duncan, Jocelyn Stange and Dayton Stange as well as a great niece and several nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and friend, Fred R. Hudson.
Bill spent his school years in Omaha, Nebraska. He was active in R.O. T. C. at Benson High School reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This is where Kathy, age fifteen, and Bill, age 16 were introduced by mutual friends. They attended the Military Ball each year and Bill lettered in rifle team his senior year.
They both enjoyed music and Bill would occasionally bring out his guitar and play a tune. He even taught himself to play a twelve string guitar. Kathy enjoyed hearing him play and sing folk songs such as Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary.
He was nominated as sixth alternate candidate for appointment to the United States Military Academy. After high school graduation in 1970, Bill enlisted in the Army serving for three years and was stationed in Germany with time also spent in Vietnam which he rarely discussed. He was Honorably Discharged as SP4 which today is roughly equivalent to corporal.
In 1974, Bill and Kathy married and they began their lives together in the Ozarks. Bill attended College of the Ozarks while also assisting his father, Fred, with getting the Zebulon Pike Excursion boat up and running on Table Rock Lake.
The business ran from 1976-1980 and was the main reason for their move to Branson. Bill received his fifty ton license from the Branson Corps of Engineers and was First Mate to Captain Fred.
Bill graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History and a minor in Political Science in 1981. For over thirty years, he worked at various motels in Branson as night auditor.
Bill had many interests over the years. He pursued learning the martial arts of Tae Kwon Do in 1983- reaching the status of Second Degree Black belt after four years of training. He was entrusted by Master Kim, the Branson Satellite School, teaching area students martial arts for several years.
Bill was a quiet, proud man who loved animals. On more than one occasion, he would say he loved animals more than humans especially if he encountered a rude customer at work. Three of these beloved animals were Tosh, Tavi and Mandy which he fondly called his kids. Mandy was abandoned so Bill brought her home from work and she never left his side. He cherished their sweet kisses and they loved to lie near or ON him when possible. After they passed, he saved their dog dishes, tags and toys. He loved them so much, he requested that their ashes be buried with him. That wish will be fulfilled.
Sugar cookies, plain cake donuts and Cheetos he would eat on a regular basis and never ever gain a pound. He drank three cups of instant coffee every morning and Kathy knew that if she wanted him to remember something she told him, to wait till cup number three.
Whenever he could, he would wear his specially sewn Snuggie. They were footed sleepers that were soft, warm and comfortable.
When one thinks of Bill, you may picture him wearing his black cap, his pocket watch or smoking his pipe smelling the vanilla aroma. Kathy decided to add these items to his casket arrangement. The purple lilacs were his favorite flower and he loved the springtime when the lilac bushes along the driveway bloomed bringing him fond memories of the ones near his childhood home.
Bill had a strong work ethic and took pride in everything he did. He was meticulous in details, had beautiful penmanship and rarely missed a day of work. Due to health reasons, Bill retired less than two months ago and even then, he was hesitant not wanting to cause any hardships on his co-workers.
Daily, Bill would watch new casts and discuss the days events and politics. You could definitely tell he was a Democrat. He enjoyed science fiction movies and history books, particularly of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was one of his favorite historical figures.
Some people may say Bill was old school as he did not have a cell phone or a Kindle but loved to read hard back books and the newspapers. He would cut articles of interest from the newspaper and put them in a marked folder. He was also sentimental saving all the cards and notes Kathy had given him.
In 1999, Bill rekindled a childhood memory and started collecting vintage GI Joe figures. Heaven forbid, you called them dolls and if so, were politely corrected to say, action figures.
Bill and Kathy attended several GI Joe Conventions around the United States turning them into special vacations. Those who had the privilege of viewing his special room that housed his GI Joe collection were surprised as he knew about all the accessories, history behind each figure and displayed them accordingly. It was his request that some of his collection be given or sold to a Toy Museum for others to enjoy.
During the holiday season, Bill enjoyed putting up lights on the house and shrubs. He spent many hours putting up light clips and setting the lights to his satisfaction. Perhaps you were fortunate enough to have driven by the house at one time or another when the lights were turned on. It was his Christmas gift to the neighborhood. Sadly, that was not completed this year due to his illness.
Bill was a devoted husband to Kathy and very protective of her. Whenever she would go somewhere, he would tell her, "Come home to me." Not a day went by that they didn't kiss and tell each other they loved one another. He gave her the pet name, Poo. They were high school sweethearts who remained deeply in love and best friends. It was as if they were destined to be together in this life and the next.
We honor Bill remembering him in our own way. It is said people come into our lives for a reason, season or lifetime. How did Bill come into your life? Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.
A visitation will be held on Monday, December 19, 2016 at Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Love Pine Ave, Springfield, MO at 11:00 followed by a memorial service at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 South Southwood, Springfield, MO after a brief Honor's Service in the Veterans Chapel at 2:00 p.m.
Kathleen was an Elementary Education teacher for 20 years, and an Elementary Counselor for 5 years.
Kathleen has a half-sister, Judith Esther Godec Oliver Decker. She was adopted by her step-father, Kenneth Bryce Oliver, on March 5, 1956.
Kathleen is the genealogist in the family who compiled this report.
61. Bernard Leroy5 Levermann (Lela Beryl4 Melvin, Alexander3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Omaha, Nebraska November 3, 1931. Bernard died October 24, 2008 at 77 years of age. Bernard was a teacher. He also served in the USMC during Korea. Bernard was helpful in sharing his genealogy on the Alexander Melvin lineage for this report.
Bernard Leroy married twice. He married Aleta Marie Alley Pierce in Omaha, Nebraska, June 16, 1957. Aleta was born in Hastings, Iowa August 30, 1936. Aleta was a beautician. She was adopted by her step-father Marv in Pierce, Nebraska.
He married Rita Marlene Bugee in Omaha, Nebraska, May 28, 1977. Rita was born in Omaha, Nebraska July 15, 1931. Rita died June 9, 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska at 76 years of age. Rita went by Marlene and she was an accountant. Marlene lived with David A. Leyden and thought he was her second husband. It turned out that David was married to several women at the same time and also had dealings with the FBI on other matters. He eventually committed suicide and after his death, Marlene learned that she was never legally married to him.
Bernard Leroy Levermann and Aleta Marie Alley Pierce had the following children:
+ 81 ii. David Werner Levermann, was born March 13, 1963.
62. Thomas Werner5 Levermann (Lela Beryl4 Melvin, Alexander3, John (Milby)2, William (Milby)1) was born in Omaha, Nebraska May 27, 1943. Thomas died April 18, 2002 in Woodbridge, Virginia, at 58 years of age. Thomas was an environmentalist.
Thomas Werner married twice. He married Sandra June Croft in Wahoo, Nebraska, May 4, 1965. Sandra was born in Omaha, Nebraska October 17, 1943. Sandra was a Contract Administrator and Purchasing Manager for the Fairfax County Government, Park Authority.
He married Barbara Joan Dean in Falls Church, Fairfax, Virginia, March 18, 1989. Barbara was born in Wayne County, West Virginia October 11, 1944. Barbara is an editor.
Thomas Werner Levermann and Sandra June Croft had the following children:
+ 83 ii. Elizabeth Kathleen Levermann, was born September 1, 1969.