Myrtle “Mert” A. Melland, age 85, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was born the daughter of Frederick Earl and Alice (Clarke) Seffrood on September 16, 1938 in South Wayne, WI.  Mert has a very close relationship with her grandmother Mary Frances Seffrood (Underhill), she considered her “Mom.”  Myrtle attended Porter Elementary and graduated from Black Hawk High School in 1956. 

She was a life time member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in South Wayne.  She was in the first class for confirmation at the church.  She was active in the Ladies Aide for the church for many years.  Preparing for funeral luncheons for many years.

She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Calvin L. Melland on October 25, 1958 at the East Wiota Lutheran Church.  They lived in the South Wayne area their whole life.  They farmed for many years on the Chapman homestead just south of town.  She stayed home to raise five children.  Later in life she worked as a teacher’s aide at Black Hawk with students that needed one on one teaching.  She gave them that motherly love and they thrived.  She worked at numerous businesses in Monroe.  Deli Manager at Pic N Save, Alp and Del, Swiss Colony and opened her own cheese store in Mount Horeb.  One of her best qualities was being a mother and grandma. The love she had for her grandchildren was beyond incredible.  Then she became a great-grandmother and became even more loving.

Mert and Cal have always had an open-door policy.  Being third oldest of 7 brothers she was a mother figure to most of them.  Rumor has it that Emil Seffrood moved into their apartment before they returned from their honeymoon.  Her brother Gary Seffrood lived with them growing up with her children.  Taking in numerous teens thru the years that stayed for an extended time.  Jim Lehman (Squawk), Jeff Meyer (Spriket), Chuck Brady, and Doug Busch to name a few.  All still loved like family.  She never wanted anyone to feel alone in this world.  Maybe the reason they stayed was because of her awesome cooking! You never left hungry when you left their house.  The wood stove was always going strong to keep everyone warm.  Sometimes a little too warm.  They loved to travel taking many trips with Lester and Marjorie Mau.  Her and Calvin loved feeding and watching the birds outside the window in the sitting room.  Cardinals were her favorite bird to watch.  Mert will be remembered as the best sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to all of us.  She was a selfless, caring, and kind hearted woman and will be missed each and every day by her family.

Mert is survived by her husband, Calvin of South Wayne; son, Allen (LeeAnn) Melland; daughters, Julie (Mike) Vondra of Platteville and Lorraine (Scott Neuenschwander) Melland of South Wayne; daughter-in-law, Jill Melland; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; Barb Sanders (Phillips) was like her third daughter; brothers, Wesley (Rose) Seffrood of Chicago, Il, Emil (Shirley) Seffrood of Monroe, Ed (Shirley) Seffrood, and Gary (Linda) Seffrood all of South Wayne; sisters-in-law, Winogene Everson of Monroe, Juanita (Jeff) Kant of South Wayne, Carol Seffrood; Patricia Seffrood, and Dorothy Seffrood all of Monroe; and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents, Frederick and Mary Frances (Underhill) Seffrood; parents-in-law, Victor and Dorothy (Johnson) Melland; brother, Leroy, Elton, and Ivan Seffrood; brothers-in-law, Walter and his wife Lois Melland and Alvin Melland; sister-in-law, Muriel Holverson and her husband Roy Holverson, Marjorie Mau and her husband Lester Mau, and Romona Denure and her husband Kenny Denure; nephews, Joseph Seffrood and Kevin Holverson; great-nephew, Bryant Gabioud; and great-niece, Devon Gabioud. 

Her greatest loss in life was the death of her two children.  Her son Thomas “Tommy” Melland in 2016 and Jerry Melland in 2023.  A pain she never fully recovered from.  We know she is at peace now that she can be with them in eternity. 

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Dennis Perger officiating.  Burial will follow at East Wiota Cemetery. 

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the church and on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family.  Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.