Melvin J. “Mel” Deien
- Visitation Dates and Times
Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Monday, April 25, 2022 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
- Visitation Location
St. Augustine Catholic Church ~ Breese
- Service Date
Monday, April 25, 2022
- Service Time
11:00 a.m.
- Service Location
St. Augustine Catholic Church ~ Breese
- Full Obituary
Melvin J. “Mel” Deien, age 81, of Breese, entered into rest Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at Kindred Hospital St. Louis South.
He was born September 28, 1940 in Breese, son of the late George H. and Lavera, nee Rolfingsmeyer, Deien.
In addition to his parents, Mel was preceded in death by a son, Matthew Deien; granddaughter, Avery Deien; siblings, Bonnie and Mary Beth Deien in infancy, and James Deien and Robert Deien; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary Ellen Deien, Betty and Felix Wilke, Virgil Heimann, and Bill and Jean Heimann; and nephews, Kurt Lammers and Joey Deien.
Mel is survived by his wife, Janet Deien, nee Heimann, of Breese, whom he married October 7, 1964 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Albers; children, Tim (Luciana) Deien of Breese, Steve (Carol) Deien of Aviston, Greg (Jackie) Deien of Breese, and Nathan (Julie) Deien of Aviston; ten grandchildren, Brandon Deien, Andrew (special friend, Mee Vang) Deien, Kelsey (special friend, Troy Ennen) Deien, Alex (special friend, Jasmin Torres) Deien, Rachel, Chloe, Bennett, and Evan Deien, and Aiden and Caleb Deien; great-grandson, Ethan Deien and highly anticipating the birth of his second great-grandchild; siblings, Margie (Kenny) Lammers of Breese and Judy Deien of Carlyle; sisters-in-law, Linda Reynolds of Breese, Carol Deien of St. Peters, MO, and Janet Heimann of Germantown; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mel, along with his wife Janet, purchased Radley Chevrolet in Breese in 1978 under the name of Deien Chevrolet. In 1982, they moved the dealership to Trenton and in 1989, they built the current dealership building. Mel was proud to have his boys currently running the dealership today. In addition, Mel invented and patented Compound Bow Rifle Sights (AKA Peep Eliminator) and proudly sold numerous products worldwide.
He was veteran of the United States Army Reserves and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese, Breese American Legion Post 252, National Rifle Association, and a former board member for Community Link. Mel enjoyed running his bulldozer, but above all, he loved wildlife, especially deer hunting, and even harvested an antelope and mule deer with the Jared Burke Foundation.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, April 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Chuck Tuttle presiding. Interment will follow at St. Dominic-St. Augustine Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. and again Monday, April 25, 2022 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese.
In lieu of flowers, plants, and other gifts, memorials may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church, Mater Dei Catholic High School, or Community Link and will be received at the visitation or by mail, Moss Funeral Home, 535 N. 5th St. Breese, IL 62230, who is serving the family.
