Melvin Pothoven, 88, of Pella, died peacefully at home on Jan. 8, 2015. Funeral services were held Jan. 14 at Pella First Reformed Church, for which memorials have been designated along with Hospice of Pella. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella.
Melvin Pothoven was born Apr. 4, 1926, in Oskaloosa. He was the youngest of three children born to Andrew Tunis and Nellie (Van Houweling) Pothoven. He attended Wheat Grow Grade School, and following this, he graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1944. He chose not to attend college and worked for several area farmers for two years.
In 1949, Melvin joined Pella Supply Co. He started as a set-up man, then as a parts man, and later as a salesman. In 1955, he bought Pella Supply Co. After 45 years of sales and repairs of New Idea Equipment and several other lines of machinery, he sold the business to his son-in-law Marvin Seekamp.
On Aug. 27, 1954, Melvin was united in marriage to Leona Vos at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. To this union three children were born.
He and his wife Leona loved to travel. They won several trips from New Idea due to sales volume, which whet their appetite for travel. Over the years, they went on a cruise and to Europe twice. They were in all 50 United States. They really enjoyed bus tours, especially the month-long winter tours. Over the years, they coordinated trips with the many friends they made.
He is survived by three children: Ronald (Louise) Pothoven, Mark (Sue) Pothoven, and Sharon Seekamp; seven grandchildren: Lee and Hannah Pothoven, Phillip and Joy Strickland, Trisha Pothoven, Jonathan and Melissa Hoose, Kelsey Pothoven, Lindsey Pothoven, and Travis and Wendy Albers; and five great-grandchildren: Andrew and Abigail Strickland, Wesley and Nicholas Pothoven, and Kolby Albers.
Melvin was preceded in death by his wife; parents; parents-in-law: John and Henrietta (Kloostra) Vos; sister and husband: Gladys and Harold Vander Hart; brother and wife: Elmer and Viola Pothoven; son-in-law: Marvin Seekamp; grandson: Scott Seekamp; brother-in-law: Larry Eugene; and sister-in-law and husband: Anna Mae and Joe Vander Beek.
