Melvin LeRoy Munk

Lansing, MI

On April 10, 2025 at the age of 95, Melvin LeRoy Munk passed from this life and into the arms of his heavenly father. Melvin was born on March 2, 1930 to Dale J. and Arda Faye Munk of Lansing. His teen years were spent on the Munk family farm on Creyts Road where he learned how to milk the cow and care for the chickens and horses. At a young age, Melvin decided that he wanted to become a dentist. After graduating from J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing, Melvin attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate study and University of Michigan School of Dentistry where he earned his DDS degree graduating in 1955. He was drafted into the U.S. Army Dental Corps as a lieutenant and served in the 16th Field Hospital in Garmisch, Germany for two years before moving back to the states.

Melvin attended South Baptist Church in Lansing throughout his childhood and adult life. It was at South that he met his first wife Nettie. They were married in 1960 and together raised two girls, Julie and Angie. When the girls were young, Mel and Nettie made a difficult decision to sell all of their belongings and move to Haiti to serve as missionaries under West Indies Mission Inc. The missionaries in Aux Cayes had been praying for a dentist and a pilot to operate a small plane. Mel had taken flight lessons in Germany and qualified for this need as well. After a year they were forced to return to the states due to health concerns and Mel took a DDS position for Jackson Prison and then the Veterans Administration in Battle Creek where he eventually retired.

Several years after Nettie’s passing Mel married Wanda, also from South Church. He and Wanda were able to enjoy traveling together, especially to Maui where they would stay for several months in the winter. During the summer months they loved to spend time at his cottage on East Grand Traverse Bay. They attended MSU football games in the Fall and basketball games in the Winter when possible.

Mel will be remembered for his commitment to Christ and his kind and generous nature. He befriended anyone in need – opening his home to them, even those who did not “fit in” socially. He had a subtle dry sense of humor and enjoyed creating his own clever sayings and subtle pranks; then watching and waiting for others to notice. He loved to read and was particularly interested in history, especially World War II. He felt a deep sense of loyalty to his country, raising his American flag every morning and lowering it every evening. Mel had a passion for cars especially the classics and had a large collection of models, many of which he built himself. He loved his tractor – always looking for a reason to use it. He delighted in being at his cottage on the bay, where he could do all of the things he loved; tinkering in his pole barn and with his tractor, sailing his Sunfish and Hobey Cat catamaran, boating and waterskiing (in younger days).

Mel is preceded in death by his parents Dale and Arda Munk, his brother Mervin Munk, first wife Nettie and second wife Wanda. He is survived by his daughter Julie Quillan (Duane), daughter Angie Beverly (Greg), his granddaughter Jessa Quillan, brother Owen Munk, step-daughter Jody Haddad, step-daughter Julie (Eric) Kessler, step-granddaughter Heather (James) Westrin, step-grandson Geer III “Smitty” (Erin), and many special nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held Monday, April 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at South Church (5250 Cornerstone Dr. Lansing, MI 48917). Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will take place immediately following the service.

Interment will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery in Howell.

Donations can be made to Faith Hospice (faithhospicecare.org/donate/) or to South Church Missions.

Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.