Melvin Eells

Eells, Melvin S. "Mr. Fantastic"
Age 79 of Fridley. Passed away December 29 at home. Preceded in death by father Nelson; mother Fannie; sister Ruth; brother Howard & brother-in-law Harold. Survived by wife Bonnie; children Nelson & Tena (Danny) Meyer; grandsons Wyatt & Ethan;sister Marion Toven and by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Memorial service 11am Wednesday at St. Philips Lutheran Church, 6180 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm Tuesday in the Miller Funeral Home Chapel, 6210 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley. Interment at a later date in the Wildwood Cemetery, Cohasset, MN.
Melvin Stanley Eells was born June 5th 1932 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He moved often with his family while growing up, but eventually settled, and graduated from Grand Rapids High School in Minnesota.
Melvin was drafted into the army in 1952 and was eventually sent to Berlin. He told Bonnie many times about the sadness he felt when hearing the song Auf Wiedersen and the sorrow he felt when leaving Germany. Upon returning home, he worked many jobs as a bartender, newspaper and meat delivery, and for public utilities.
On September 30th, 1973 Melvin was in a car accident that would start a new life for him. The accident completely paralyzed him, and everyone was sure that he would never survive. From that day on he would become to be known as "Mr. Fantastic" because he was so thankful that he had survived that he would never be less than Fantastic again.
Melvin eventually made it from Grand Rapids Hospital to St Luke's in Duluth, Minnesota. While recovering at St Luke's, Melvin met his match, a nursing aide on the ICU floor. He and Bonnie got married on December 14th, 1974.
They lived in Duluth for a few years, until they finally settled in the twin cities area and their home in Fridley, Minnesota. Melvin and Bonnie had two children, Nelson and Tena, and eventually two grandsons, Wyatt and Ethan. Melvin worked for Automatic Garage Door Company for 33 years and retired to play cribbage, play with his grandsons, and pet his german shepard buddy.