Melvin Lee Whipple, 81, was called home to our heavenly Father on October 23, 2026. He was surrounded by his family when he passed at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO.

Melvin was born in Callaway, Nebraska, on January 10, 1945, to Irvin and Lillian (Leonard) Whipple. He was the older brother to four sisters: Linda, Gloria, Reita, and Patricia. The children helped Irvin and Lillian with the family farm during their childhoods.

He was raised in a Christian home and as a teenager accepted Christ as his Savior alongside his sister, Linda. That relationship with God lasted his entire life. Melvin lived with the grace, kindness, and love that Jesus exemplified for us all.

Melvin graduated from Callaway High School in 1963 and received vocational training in electronics at Southeast Community College in Milford, NE. He was introduced to his wife Karen by mutual friends in 1965. They were married on October 26, 1967, at the First United Methodist Church in Gothenburg, NE. They raised two children, Kimberly and Christopher, together and were happily married for 59 years.

Melvin worked for IBM for more than 30 years and after he retired he continued to do contract work for them. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Windsor, CO, where he served on the Pastor Parish team and helped start the Clothing Closet, a free resource for the community. He was an active member of the Optimist Club and loved to volunteer at the Duck Derby and the Easter egg hunt. Every January, Melvin and Karen would visit Kauai with their friends and Melvin would sit on the balcony and whalewatch.

During the last 6 years, Melvin’s health was challenging him, but his perseverance didn’t fade. He and Karen moved in with family (Chris, Jeanna, Reagan, and Lily) in 2023 to surround him with additional support. Even in the final years of his life, when his health was failing, he enjoyed God’s creation every chance he got. Sometimes it was driving to Estes Park to sit by the river or looking for wildlife, watching pelicans at Windsor Lake, or even just looking for butterflies on the back patio.

Melvin is survived by his wife Karen (Brock) Whipple; his daughter Kimberly Walker and her husband Todd of Walnut Creek, CA; his son Christopher Whipple and his wife Jeanna of Windsor, CO; his grandchildren August Walker, Ada Walker, Reagan Whipple, and Lily Whipple; his sisters Linda (Paul) Dietz of Lincoln, NE, Reita (Charley) Lloyd of Callaway, NE, and Patricia (Ken) Phifer of North Platte, NE; his sister-in-law Pam Brock of Gothernburg, NE; and his nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Lillian Whipple, his sister Gloria and brother-in-law Larry Lehmkuhler, his mother-in-law Ceora Brock, and his brother-in-law Jerry Brock.

His loved ones will miss his teasing, his care, and his gentle spirit, but are comforted to know he is reunited with those who have gone before and rests in the arms of the Lord.

A viewing in Windsor, CO, will take place Thursday, October 29, from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Morning Star Church near Callaway, NE, on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a graveside observance at Stop Table cemetery and a lunch in Arnold, NE.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com