Melvin W. Discher

Melvin lived a very full and blessed life, even though he had a very meager start in the depression. He came from a family of six kids raised by a single mother. He was born Melvin Wilbert Discher on February 22, 1925 to his parents Helene and Otto Discher (deceased). Melvin went to live with the Eternal Carpenter on Monday, June 13th, 2016.Melvin attended Peace Lutheran Grade School and was a graduate of Oshkosh High School in 1943. He attended college full-time on the GI bill, while raising a young family and held many jobs to support them. He graduated from UW-Oshkosh (State Teachers College) with a BS degree in Chemistry/Biology.Melvin (Mev) was drafted in June 1943, and placed directly into the aviation cadet program, sent to CTD in Cedar Rapids, IA, pre-flight at San Angelo, TX and gunnery school at Las Vegas, NV. Melvin took advanced bombardier training at Deming, NM, and received his wings and was commissioned second lieutenant in class 44-43-B, S/N 0788437 on October 21, 1944. He had overseas training at Rapid City, SD, then trained with two aircrews on a B-17. He was sent to England with the first crew, and was with the second crew when the war ended. He was separated from service in October 1945, but remained in the reserves until 1962, attaining the rank of Captain.After returning from the service he met a beautiful young lady named Carol Gloria Kaufman from Birnamwood, WI. He joked that he took her off the farm and had to clean the manure out from between her toes. They were married on August 3rd, 1946 in Oshkosh, WI. She preceded him in death on December 23, 2005.The Discher Bros. started their business delivering cabinets on a bicycle. The restored bicycle is on display at the Discher Millwork offices. A true family business built from the ground up to be a large national business still run by the family. Discher Bros. built many beautiful homes that are nationally recognized, and custom cabinetry as Discher Architectural Millwork , which is installed in many healthcare and monumental government facilities. Melvin was a master at woodworking and woodcarving by hand.He was an amazing family man, and never missed a concert, sporting match or birthday party for all of his kids, and grandkids. He always had a pack of bubble gum to share with the grandkids, and a stash of mixed nuts or candy in his car. When asked how he was, hed always say, better now that Im talking to you! Music was his life. He was a Squadron song leader during his military service, sang with Bing Crosby at the Hollywood Canteen, and was a lifelong member of Winnebagoland Barbershop Chorus. In 1977, he received the Barbershopper of the Year award, and again in 2011. In that year, a music scholarship was also established in his name for the Oshkosh High Schools of which he was very proud. He was always the top chapter pickpocket (fundraiser) for their annual concert for the hearing impaired and received a national award for being the top fundraiser in the country. He was even working the phones and fundraising after he was admitted to Eden Meadows Rehab facility.Melvin had a magnetic personality and was loved by everyone that he met. He lived by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and taught his family to do the same. The secret to his blessed life was to SMILE and he reminded everyone he met to do just that.Melvin was a very patriotic man and loved his country, as well as having a birthday on Presidents Day. He was so humbled to take the Old Glory Honor flight in 2011 to see the Washington D.C. monuments with his son Bruce.He was a phenomenal gardener, filling his whole city lot with flowers and vegetable gardens. He planted a red, white and blue patriotic garden every year and cultivated beautiful lilies from seeds. He loved sharing his flowers with others.He was an avid reader of thick books about presidents and the war, and the only person we knew that read Scientific American. Melvin was a very faithful man, read the Bible daily, rarely missed church on Sunday, and was reciting his favorite hymn, Jesus Savior Pilot Me even in his final days. He served for many years as the church council president and on the cemetery board, and was a lifelong member of Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh. He was also a member of the Oshkosh Chapter American Legion and the Last Mans Club.Mev had a wicked sense of humor and many were victims of his hidden fart machine, or teasing his wait staff while at restaurants that he had a crust on his soup. He also loved to flirt with all the ladies he met. To the very end he was flirting with the nurses and wanting smooches from his granddaughters. He leaned against a few bars that he built in his days and was proud that the Peoples Brewery of Oshkosh made special Discher Brau packaging in the 60s. He recently gave one of those bottles to his granddaughter, Anna, who works for Miller-Coors Brewing in Chicago, to show everyone how famous he was. Survivors include: his son Bruce (Dawn) Discher and daughter Kristi (Harold (Tim)) Timmerman, and Son-in-law: Donald Metoxen. Grandchildren: Carrie (Mark) Schuster, Melissa (Mark) Edinger, Rebecca (Steve) Nankervis, Matthew (Rachel) Metoxen, Marc (Crystal) Metoxen, John (Kayla) Discher, Jill and Anna Discher. Great-grandchildren: Rachel and Lindsey Steiner, Emily and Allison Edinger, Ava and Owen Nankervis, Reagan, Ryan, Baylee and Blake Metoxen, Jay Krueger, Erica, Ben, and Kevin Schuster. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law Roger (friend Kathy) and Peter (Carlie) Kaufman, and sister-in-law Phyllis Meidl. He is further survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.He was preceded in death by his daughter Barbara Jean one year ago this week on June 18th, 2015. Also he was preceded by his brothers and their wives: Harold (Gert), Clarence (Bunny), Gilbert (Leona) Discher, his brother Kenneth Discher, as well as his sister Anita Salzsieder and aunt Leona Froemming. Dear lifelong friends who also preceded him in death are Lenny Mirkus, Mike Radig and Ray Drexler all of Oshkosh, and Charlie Adams of TX.The family wishes to send a huge thank you to the wonderful VNA home care givers that treated him like a friend: Tina, Rita, Naomi, Courtney, Deb. Also sincere appreciation to friends Herb and Bev Dieckman for getting Melvin to church after he could no longer drive, and to Lee and Joann Muegge for all of their help keeping him in his home, bringing him food and helping with the yard. Finally, thank you to Eden Meadows Rehab and Green houses and Heartland Hospice nurses for your kind and compassionate care. He appreciated everything you did for him.Memorials in his name will be sent to his music scholarship for Oshkosh High School students, and the Old Glory Honor Flight.Visitation will be held Monday, June 20th from 4-8 pm at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home, 100 Lake Pointe Drive, Oshkosh, WI. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 21st from 11 am to 1 pm with services to follow at 1 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 240 W. 9th Avenue, Oshkosh, WI. Following the service, a processional will go to Peace Lutheran Cemetery, 100 W. Waukau Avenue, Oshkosh for burial with full military honors.Family and friends are then invited to a gathering to celebrate his life at Robbins Restaurant, 1810 Oshkosh Avenue, Oshkosh, WI.Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach'rous shoal. Chart and compass came from thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me. When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar; 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, then, while leaning on thy breast, may I hear thee say to me, fear not; I will pilot thee."

Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

00:00.0
4-8 p.m.



Peace Lutheran Church



240 W 9th Ave
Oshkosh
WI
54902

00:00.0
11 a.m. - service



Peace Lutheran Church



240 W 9th Ave
Oshkosh
WI
54902

00:00.0
1:00 p.m.



Peace Lutheran Cemetery



Waukau Ave
Oshkosh
WI
54902