August 31, 1922—August 18, 2009



A funeral service for Shirley “Lou” Melberg, 86, was conducted at 10:00 A.M., Friday, August 21, 2009, at the Covenant Lutheran Church in Wheatland, Wyoming, with Pastor Marsha Hendrickson officiating. Interment was in the Wheatland Cemetery.

She died Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at the Douglas Care Center in Douglas, Wyoming.

Shirley was born August 31, 1922, in Borger, Texas, the daughter of Shirley “Red” and Sue (Dutton) Ivey. She was reared and educated in Borger, graduating from high school there in 1940. She worked as a lab assistant in a chemical plant and at several other jobs prior to marrying Elroy A. Melberg on March 4, 1949, at the Air Force Chapel in Ft. Worth, Texas. Due to Mr. Melberg’s career in the Air Force, they lived in Texas, Guam, California, Wisconsin, Colorado Springs, and Cheyenne, prior to moving to Wheatland in 1981. They lived in the country on Sybille Creek Road for a time and then moved into town in 2004.

Lou worked for the Wyoming Lung Association for six years as a campaign director. She was a very active member of the Ascension Lutheran Church while living in Cheyenne and then at Covenant Lutheran Church in Wheatland. Lou worked in the hospital gift shop as a Platte County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteer; and, she enjoyed cooking, baking, and crossword puzzles. In their early retirement years, Lou and her husband traveled extensively.

Survivors include her three children and their spouses, Carol (Bob) Tarantola of Casper, Wyoming, Glen (Susan) Melberg of Mount Shasta, California, and Janet (Paul) Adams of Cheyenne, Wyoming; three grandchildren, Kristi Tarantola (Fritz Krembs) of Evergreen, Colorado, Cyrena Adams and Alexander Adams both of Cheyenne; a nephew, Bobby (Theresa) Fisher of Houston, Texas; niece, Shirley (Derle) Walker of Kingman, Arizona; and great nephews, William and Robert Fisher and Ivey Walker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elroy on February 15, 2006; and two sisters, Luella Fisher and Margaret Fisher.

Serving as pallbearers were Bob Tarantola, Glen Melberg, Paul Adams, Alexander Adams, Jim Prince, and Stu Hammersmar.

Memorials to Covenant Lutheran Church, 1863 South Road, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 would be appreciated by the family.

Arrangements were under the direction of Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland.