Melva E. Oesch, age 86 of Alto, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, December 7, 2018. She was preceded in death by her grandsons, Joseph Robert and Freddie. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Joseph Oesch; children, Fredrick (Donna) Oesch, Bonnie (David) Stouffer, Sam (Randi) Oesch, Ken “Peny” (Denise) Oesch, Jeff (Brenda) Oesch, Tom (Michelle) Oesch, Sally (Don) Meyer; brothers, Gary (Jane) Crosby, Jim Crosby; sisters, Donna (Sim) Maier, Polly Vanderstel; 25 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, Thea; special friend, Diane Rieffer; and many nieces and nephews. Melva was proud to be a farm wife. She put a lot of time in as a terminal patient caregiver and owned Oesch soft serve ice cream wagon. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 12, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Apostolic Christian Fellowship Center, 7700 Wingeier Ave. SE, Alto, MI 49302. Funeral services will be Thursday, December 13, 11:00 AM at the Apostolic Christian Church, 7157 Wingeier Ave. SE, Alto, MI 49302. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook SE, Suite 300, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546; or the Apostolic Christian Church.
4 Responses
Prayers for the family at this difficult time.
Kris Klatt
It was a privilege to know you Melva, enjoy heaven and all its glory.
Dear Oesch Family,
Our hearts grieve with you as you say goodbye to your wife, mother and Grandmother. Memories of Melva (and Joe) are etched in our hearts as loving grandparents to all children at Alto Apostolic church. As a transplant family who moved 5 hours from our own parents and grandparents, God used Melva in such a special way to fill a void for our children and a need for grandparents during worship. She was always prepared with candies and toys to share her love with our children. Thank you Melva for your Godly example of serving Christ with a smile and showing us younger woman how to serve our husbands and families with hardwork, diligence and joy! Your legacy lives on as we see your own children and grandchildren loving the Lord and loving others!
We are so sorry we can not be with you all in person to grieve, but we eagerly await the day when Jesus Christ returns in the clouds and all who bow their knee and worship Him as Lord and Savior today will someday be together forever and ever in eternity. We rejoice believing Melva only experienced the shadow of death but in a twinkling of an eye she will rise again with Christ in heaven!! (1 Cor. 15:50-58)
We are praying for each one of you in the Oesch family, knowing that God the Father of mercies will comfort you just as he has comforted us! (2 Cor. 1:3,4)
Because of Christ,
Casey and Rachel Banks and Children
I will miss you Melva and always picture you with a smile on your face as you will never be forgotten!