Dolores Emma Melum, age 89 of Iola and the Town of New Hope, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital.
Dolores was born April 5, 1933, at home to the late Walter and Alice (Eckert) Toellner in Nichols, WI, She went 2 years to Seymour High and graduated from Marion High School in 1951. Dolores married Julian Melum in Milwaukee, October 9, 1954. He preceded her in death in 1988.
They had four children, then relocated to Iola, WI in 1964. She drove bus for the Iola school system and also did the bookkeeping for her husband’s masonry business.
One of their passions in life was dancing—particularly, to polka music. When Dolores and Julian moved out on the dance floor, most people stopped to watch and admire their obvious skill and flair. Another of her passions was photography; particularly, of family and social gatherings. Her friends and family enjoyed her positive outlook, her stories from the past, and her great sense of humor. She even wrote her own obituary, because she opined, “Who knows my life better than I do?”
Dolores is survived by sons Warren Melum, Eric (Nancy) Melum; daughters Karen (Mike) Lane and Kelley (Steve) Scott. Sisters-in-law Pat and Marlyn Melum and Gail Toellner. Best friend from childhood, Marge Larsen. She is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by both her parents, father- and mother-in-law, husband Julian, two sisters, two brothers, eight brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and one great-granddaughter, Mandy Lawton.
In her later years, Dolores was involved in a number of volunteer activities, including the Red Hat Society, Lady’s Auxiliary, Wreaths across America, and the South New Hope Cemetery Association.
The Funeral Service will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Iola on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 11:00 AM. The Reverend Dennis Olson will officiate. Interment will be in the South New Hope Lutheran Cemtery in the Town of New Hope, Portage County, Wisconsin.
Visitation will be held at the Voie Funeral Home in Iola on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 4-7 PM and at the church on Wednesday from 9:30-10:45 AM.