Melissa M. Landdeck

Melissa (nee Meyer) Landdeck

Melissa Landdeck passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2023. She had spent more than 85 years here, and felt it was time to move to the next phase of her life. She was born on April 25, 1938 to Evelyn and Gilbert Meyer, who lived in Whitefish Bay. After high school in that city she attended UWM as an Art History major, but left school after two years to work in West Bend. It was the good fortune of John Landdeck that she did so, because that was his home town and he got the opportunity to meet her and eventually persuade her to marry him. She supported her husband while he pursued a degree, and then moved with him to Beaver Dam in 1973. She soon learned to love this town, and became a strong member and supporter of it.

Melissa continued her interest in the arts with her painting and with her support of the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association for many years. She also worked as a teacher’s aide for CESA, which gave her a deep understanding of helping others. She volunteered at Lakeview Nursing Home, served as a Girl Scout leader, sang in the choir at First Lutheran Church, and served as alderperson for her ward, including working on the Sesquicentennial Committee. She planted big gardens, picked and displayed her prize flowers, and canned innumerable jars of vegetables and berries.

And, while doing all these things, she raised four children and taught them the good manners and the work ethic that they still display.

She had taught swimming lessons in her younger years, and her love of “water” remained with her. She was an accomplished water skier, sailer, a willing helmsman for others who were skiing, and a consummate “floater”, who enjoyed just put-putting around the lake at dusk on Little Cedar Lake, her favorite place to spend summers. She enjoyed winters in Florida, in a seaside condo with a view of each day’s sunset.

Melissa was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Mary. She is survived by her brother John (Mary Ann), by seven grandchildren—Alice, Caroline, Molly, Maclean, Margaret, Jack, and Morgan; she is also survived by her children—John (Katherine), Daniel (Colleen), Amy (Brian), and Jennifer, and by her husband John.

The family is planning a life celebration at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. After the service, all are invited to mingle and share thoughts with the family and each other at Old Hickory Golf Club in Beaver Dam. Even if you are unable to attend the service at 11:00 a.m., please join us at Old Hickory at approximately 12:00 noon to visit with the family.

Even though Missy loved her garden, the family asks that you make a donation to a local charity in lieu of your gift of flowers.