Kenneth Mellema

Kenneth Mellema was born on April 5, 1922 in Sanborn, Iowa to Samuel and Minnie Mellema. He was one of 11 siblings and was raised on a farm in Iowa. As a young man, he worked as a farm hand until he was drafted into the Army during WWII. While he served 4 years in the Army, he served some of the time in the South Pacific. He moved to Denver in 1948 and worked as a waterproofing contractor where he met and married Veronica "Ronnie" Vincent on April 6, 1951 (a day following his birthday). He then worked for a trucking company until he started his own business, Mellema Trucking Company. Ken loved hunting and fishing and he especially loved horses. He rode on many cattle drives, pack trips and rodeos with the Jefferson County Mounted Sheriff's Posse. He earned the title Captain of the Posse for a year.
He loved Veronica very much and they had four children. One child (Nancy) died at birth, which was devastating to both Ken and Ronnie. They had three additional children, Sandi, Scott, and Mark.
He and Ronnie moved to South Carolina as Ronnie found a lower altitude was better for her breathing problems. He and Ronnie both were devout Christians and loved the Lord. They became members of Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, SC. He lost his beloved Ronnie in 2007 in South Carolina after 56 years of marriage, and after some consideration, he decided to move back to Colorado to be with his sons. He is a member of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church and cares for and respects Pastor Za. He is survived by his daughter, Sandi (Pat) Higgins; sons, Scott (Jane) and Mark (Summer Mardis) Mellema; six granddaughters (no grandsons, darn it), Erin (Jose) Higgins-Boluda, Heather (John) Hall, Amanda (Jared) Cronk, Brandi (Michael) McKenna, Samantha Mellema and Jordan Mellema; three great-grandchildren, Trystan Cronk, Cougar Cronk and Trapper Cronk; and two great-grandchildren on the way. He believed Jesus Christ was his savior and died for our sins and because of his faith, he is truly saved.