Melonie E. Rice

Melonie Erika Rice of Fond du
Lac, peacefully passed from this life to join our Lord and Savior, on Thursday,
February 16, 2017, at St. Francis Home, where she resided for the past 17
months.

 

Melonie was born on April 9,
1930, the third of five children, to Frederick and Margarita (Birkheim)
Trott.  She attended Lincoln School and
Fond du Lac High School, graduating in 1948.

 

On October 15, 1949, she
married Daniel D. Rice, “the boy from next door” and the love of her life at
Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac.  They celebrated 57 years of marriage before
Dan’s passing in 2006.

 

Melonie worked at Wiley Smith
Clinic, Huber Brothers Drug Store & Stationary, and at Kiekhaefer/Brunswick/Mercury
Marine for 24 years, before retiring in 1989.

 

Melonie was a lifelong member
of Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church, where she and Dan taught Sunday school for
many years.   She served on the church
board as treasurer, and was actively involved in church sewing, quilting, and
knitting groups, Bible studies, Vacation Bible School, Ladies Aid, Altar Guild,
and various committees.  Melonie enjoyed
golf and bowling and for several years was a league member in both.  She was an avid reader and member of several
area book clubs; she also loved scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, and travel,
especially along the Mississippi River. 
A longtime member of Fond du Lac’s Master Gardeners, Melonie’s love of
flowers was evidenced by her many club projects and in the beautiful flower
beds at their home on Pearl Lane. Her grandchildren will especially remember
the many Scrabble and card games played, baking and decorating cookies
together, Mel’s fabulous pies, thoughtful gifts, and unending love and support.

 

Melonie is survived by three
children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren:  daughter, Nancy Zahn of Fond du Lac, and
Nancy’s sons: Jordan Zahn and Spencer Zahn; son, Guy Rice and his wife, Ludeen
of Fond du Lac, and their children: 
Gavin Rice, Andrea (Dan) Dobogai, Collin (Samantha) Rice, and Aleisha
Rice; son, Kurt Rice and his wife, Sher of Colgate, Wisconsin, and their
children: Zachary (Tiffany) Rice, Meredith Rice, Harrison Rice, and Margo
Rice.  Melonie’s great-grandchildren are:
Bennett and Brynlee Rice (children of Collin and Samantha) and Cooper Rice (son
of Zachary and Tiffany).  Melonie is also
survived by two brothers:  Kenneth
(Shirley) Trott and Marc Trott; three sisters: 
Lorraine Jacobson, Mary Davis, and Janice Duket; very many nieces,
nephews, extended family members and close friends.

 

Melonie was preceded in death
by her husband, Daniel, in 2006; her parents; her stepmother, Marie (Karst)
Trott; two brothers-in-law:  Oswald
Jacobson and David Duket; a sister-in-law, Nancy Trott; a stepsister, Emma
Prasser; and a son-in-law, Gerald “Gerry” Zahn.

 

Services celebrating
Melonie’s life will take place at the St. Francis Chapel, 33 Everett Street,
Fond du Lac, on Saturday, March 18, 2017, with a visitation from 2:00 – 3:00
p.m. followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Mary Schabel,
close friend of the family, officiating. 
Cremation has taken place.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials
are appreciated.

 

Melonie’s family wishes to
extend very special thanks to the wonderful staff of St. Francis Home, the
Agnesian Hospice team, and to Dr. Jerry Evans and Dr. Thomas Fabricius of
Agnesian HealthCare for their thoughtful and loving care of our mother and
grandmother.

 

Kurki-Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving
the family, www.kurkimachfuneralchapel.com.