GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Melvin N. Grossheider, 86, passed away Friday, April 26, 2002, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girar-deau.

Friends may call between 4 and 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, Mo., and after 10 a.m. Monday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Revs. Wayne Schweisow and Karl Leeman officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Mr. Grossheider was born Jan. 3, 1916, in Gordonville, the son of Martin F. and Bertha Koch Grossheider.

On Aug. 27, 1944, he and Wilma Schrader were married by the Rev. G.B. Seboldt at the Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville. She survives.

Other loving survivors include a son, Don Grossheider of rural Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Corliss Meyr of Chaffee, Mo., and LaVerne Hoerchler of Eureka, Mo.; two sisters, Erma Meyer of rural Jackson and Allene Meyr of Gordonville.

Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Phillip Hoerchler, Matthew Hoerchler, Lori Meyr, Adria Meyr, Callie Meyr, Abby Grossheider, Neal Grossheider and a stepgrandson Clint Pogue.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother.

Melvin was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville, baptized Jan. 18, 1916, and confirmed June 30, 1929. Throughout his years of faithful service to the church, he held several offices, was a member of the Men's Club and played in the dart ball league.

He was also an avid bowler and a former 4-H leader.

Melvin spent his early life on the family farm in Gordonville and later became a skilled cabinet maker. He worked for various contractors until becoming self-employed in the early 1960s.

In 1973, he retired from commercial work due to his health. He continued his craft as health allowed.

Expressions of sympath may take the form of contributions to the Zion Organ Fund or Zion Stained Glass Window Fund.