AUCH, Melvin Robert

Melvin (Mel) Auch, age 73, of Aurora, died Wednesday, November 30, 2005, at the Hamilton Manor in Aurora. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 3rd at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Aurora. Rev. Karl Larson will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Friday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. The family will greet friends from 5-7. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com. OBITUARY: MELVIN AUCH Melvin Robert Auch, the son of Ferdinand and Martha (Gall) Auch, was born in Lesterville, South Dakota on November 29, 1932 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on November 30, 2005, at the age of 73. He grew up in Scotland, South Dakota and graduated from Scotland High School in 1950. Mel served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1953-1955, being honorably discharged in 1961. On November 13, 1955, he was united in marriage to Emma M. Burnison at Rapid City, South Dakota. They had three children: Robert, Kathleen and William. Mel began his career in the mobile home manufacturing industry with Redman Industries in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1957 as a foreman. He was promoted to Production Manager in 1963 and relocated to Grand Island, Nebraska. After 13 years with Redman, Mel accepted a position as President and General Manager with Chief Industries, Inc. Housing Division d.b.a as Bonnavilla Homes in Aurora, Nebraska. Mel served in this capacity for 17 years, before semi-retiring in December of 1997. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committees of Chief Industries, Inc. until his full retirement on June 30, 2000. Over his career in the Mobile Home Manufacturing Industry Mel earned many awards including the following: 2005 Mel was inducted into the Kansas National RV & Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame; 2002 National RV & Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame; 2002 Nebraska National RV & Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame; 1993 Outstanding Industry Award from the Nebraska Diplomats; 1979 Nebraska Manufactured Housing Institute "Distinguished Service Award"; 1975 the Aurora Chamber of Commerce "Community Service Award"; 1972 Aurora Chamber of Commerce "Official Map Maker" and 1968 Redman Industries "Outstanding Production Manager". Mel served on many Boards and Commissions in the Manufactured Housing Industry: 1981-2000 Board of Directors of the North Central Manufactured Housing Institute, where he was president from 1999-2000; 1987-2000 Member of the Manufactured Housing Institute, which is the National Assoc. for the Manufactured Housing Industry; 1977-2000 Board of Directors for the Nebraska Manufactured Housing Institute, 1st vice president in 1977 and 1979, president 1980-81; 1971-2000 Board of Directors and Executive for Chief Industries; 1994-97 Nebraska Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board; 1977 Appointed & commissioned as a member of the Manufactured Housing Advisory Board by Governor J.J. Exon, State of Nebraska and 1977-1980 member of the Advisory Committee on Mobile Homes and Recreational Vehicles Standards for the State of Nebraska. Mel also served on several community boards: Nebraska Diplomats from 1990-1999; Aurora Diplomats from 1985-1999; Aurora Development Corporation Board of Directors from 1987-1997; Aurora Memorial Hospital Board of Directors from 1979-1980 and Farmers State Bank/Pinnacle of Aurora Board of Directors from 1973-1997. Mel was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He enjoyed traveling and outdoor activities. Mel was a member of the V.F.W. of Grand Island and American Legion of Aurora. He was preceded in death by his parents. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Emma Auch of Aurora; three children, Robert Auch and friend Georgia Christner of Newcastle, Wyoming, Kathleen (Randy) Johnson of Signal Mountain, Tennessee and William (Karen) Auch of Papillion; two granddaughters, Megan and Alayna Auch and four brothers, Ervin (Nancy) Auch of Neosho, Missouri, Archie (Nadean) Auch of Yankton, South Dakota, Elmer (Lorraine) Auch of Aurora and Wilbert (Marcia) Auch of Kansas City, Missouri.
Posted by on December 29, 2012

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