John E. Melssen, 92, of Platteville, WI, formerly of Dickeyville, WI, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Oak Park Place in Janesville, WI.

Mary Anne Melssen, 91, of Platteville, WI, formerly of Dickeyville, WI, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Oak Park Place Memory Care in Janesville, WI.

A combined memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25th at the Haudenshield Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba City, WI, with military honors accorded for John. Burial will be in the Holy Ghost Church Cemetery in Dickeyville, WI. Family & friends may call on Friday, July 25th from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Haudenshield Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba City, WI. The Haudenshield Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba City, WI is serving the family.

John was born on January 14, 1932 to Leo & Barbara (Riemenapp) Melssen in Dickeyville, WI. He attended Holy Ghost School in Dickeyville, WI, Loras Academy in Dubuque, IA and Radar School in Fort Bliss, TX. In 1953, he enlisted in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1955.

Mary Anne was born on May 21, 1934 to Adolph & Catherine (Menne) Gerhards in Potosi, WI. They were united in marriage on May 24, 1955 in Tennyson, WI.

Mary Anne worked for 15 years at Hauber Brand Meats in Dickeyville, WI.

John worked for 27 years at the Dubuque Packing Company and later became self-employed as an insurance agent for 12 years. He was a member of the Dickeyville Fire Department for 32 years and a charter member of the Dickeyville Rescue Squad, American Legion for 55 years, started the Dickeyville Slow-Pitch Softball League and the Dickeyville Athletic Club. They were both active members with Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Dickeyville, WI.

Both John & Mary Anne enjoyed golfing, bowling, softball, traveling around the world, but most of all, they enjoyed time spent with their family and friends. They will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved them.

John & Mary Anne are survived by their 4 children: Diane (Rob) Klaas of Janesville, WI, Brenda (Kevin) FitzPatrick of Peachtree City, GA, Rick (Valorie Semingson) Melssen of Eau Claire, WI and Thomas Melssen of Chandler, AZ; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; Mary Anne's 2 brothers: Ron Gerhards & Jim (Maurna) Gerhards; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

They were preceded in death by their parents, John's 4 brothers: Henry (Mary Ann) Melssen, Harold (Irma) Melssen, Emil (Margaret) Melssen, Robert Melssen, John's 4 sisters: Lucida (Ray) Schmit, Catherine "Kay" (Louis) Reisch and Florida (Fritz) Reuter and Sandy Gerhards.

The family would like to give special thanks to Angie Pierce and staff at Park Place in Platteville for the wonderful care they received while there, Oak Park Place Assisted Living in Janesville and Heartland Hospice, especially Melissa, Jess, Karen, and Tom. You are all truly angels!

In lieu of plants & flowers, memorials may be made to the Brickl Memorial Library in Dickeyville, WI in John's honor for his passion for reading.

Memorials may be mailed to:

Brickl Memorial Library
500 East Ave,
Dickeyville, WI 53808
**In Memory of John Melssen**

Haudenshield Funeral Home
c/o: Melssen Family
P.O. BOX 825
Cuba City, WI 53807