Melva Irene Hahn

Melva Irene Hahn August 13, 1919 - December 8, 2011 Melva Irene Michelsen Hahn died peacefully at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center surrounded by those who loved her dearly on Thursday, December 8, 2011. Services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, December 12, at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul Fiske and Chaplain Richard Rusk officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Melva Irene Michelsen was born August 13, 1919, in Salina, Kansas, the daughter of Dagmar Henrietta Wollesen and Hans Christian Ejnar Michelsen. Because of the death of two infant sons, Melva was born at St. John's Hospital in Salina, the only member of her family's generation to have such an auspicious beginning. She was baptized September 28, 1919, and confirmed May 24, 2939, at Denmark Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Kansas. Her memory verse was "Fear not for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine" from Isaiah 43.1. Her brother, Virgil Viggo was born December 12, 1920. She and Virgil started school together at Malone schools in September, 1926, and graduated in 1939 from Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Kansas. Up until the time they started school, Danish was the language of their home; however, once Melva and Virgil started school, their parents insisted that English become the only language. Little did they know that Melva could still understand what their parents were saying to one another in Danish. As a child of the Great Depression, she would tell stories of the Dust Bowl's great sand storms of the 1930's and the many hardships they endured. In May 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. After basic and specialty training in Iowa and Arkansas, where she asked for "foreign duty", was assigned to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. It was here where she later met the love of her life, Edwin Eddie A. Hahn. On her parents' 30th anniversary, April 28, 1945, they were married at the Fort Bliss chapel. In December, 1945, she was honorably discharged with the close of the war. A short time later, Edwin was discharged and after spending about a month in Kansas, they returned to Texas and to Waco, where they made their home. After coming to Waco, she initially worked at the Roosevelt Hotel as a secretary to the general manager. By combining the benefits of their G.I. Bills, they were able to purchase their first home. Although they did not have a refrigerator or a car, they were blissfully happy in their own little house. Life was happy and active. In September of 1946, they joined First Lutheran Church of Waco, where she remained an active member throughout her life. She served in many positions of the church women's organization. A devoted Sunday school teacher, her favorite ages to teach were the two and three year olds. She also served briefly as the church's secretary. She served on the board of the Round Rock Children's Home as a representative from Central Texas Lutheran Churches. One of the great joys of Eddie and Melva was serving as sponsors for the Luther League Youth Group, surrounding themselves by the youth of the church. After 13 years of marriage and being told they would never have children, they were blessed with the birth of their only child, Deborah Kay. After Debbie's arrival, Melva became a full time mom. She was the mom who was always willing to take a car full of giggling girls on field trips through the Central Texas area or to be the room mother. Even after Debbie entered Baylor, the Hahn house was everyone's home away from home. Melva lived a long and blessed life. At 89, she and Debbie joined dear friends on an Alaskan cruise. Even there she became the belle of the ball, with stewards jockeying to assist her. Melva had a sweet personality and made friends readily. From the postman to the meter reader, she was able to make each individual feel important. After Eddie's death on February 14, 2005, she and Debbie decided to start a new life. Debbie sold her home and they moved into their new home that she enjoyed help making into their own. They were not just mother and daughter, but the best of friends. Whether it was attending civic theater or other musical events, Melva was always ready to go. She was talking about making a trip to the Northwest in the spring to see new country and to further cement a renewed relationship with her nephew, Peter Michelsen, after a forty year absence. She had a magnificent memory, and could remember everyone's birthdate. Her daily pastimes included watching the birds that graced her bird feeders outside the kitchen window or working word search puzzles. She quickly announced, I've finished another one! She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers and numerous cousins. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Kay Hahn; her nephew, Johnnie L. Hahn and wife, Carolyn of Temple, Texas, as well as their three sons, Chase Aaron Hahn of Washington, DC; Jordan Lee Hahn of Houston, Texas and Keaton Mitchell Hahn of Temple, as well as her nephew, Peter Virgil Michelsen of Woodlands, Washington and wife, Sheila, and their family; as well as a niece, Dianne Hahn Huggard and family of Roanoke, Texas, and nephew, Billy Hahn of Ft. Worth. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Louise Harrington School of Nursing at Baylor University or First Lutheran Church of Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.