Surnames: Boardman, Christian, Mayer, Tobola, Koltis

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 04/21/1949

Boardman, Melvin C. (25 JUL 1884 - 15 APR 1949)

Last rites were conducted by Rev. Jas. Irish at the Thorp Funeral Home here at 2:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon for Melvin C. Boardman, who passed away at his home here on Friday, April 15, 1949. He had reached the age of 64 years and 9 months.

Mr. Boardman first became ill shortly after deer hunting season last Fall. He underwent a major operation at the Chippewa Falls hospital soon after and several weeks later returned home. His recovery was not as rapid as expected and he again re-entered the hospital but failed to respond to further treatment.

Melvin Cleveland Boardman was born in Thorp on July 25, 1884, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim A. Boardman, pioneers of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), who came here in the year 1872.

Frenchie learned the saw and planning mill business in the mill of his father and became an expert mechanic, later specializing in automobile work.

While still a young man he spent several weeks each year in the western harvest fields operating threshing engines. After his marriage he worked in the sawmills at Polley and at Cadott before entering the employ of the Thorp Auto Sales Co. garage at Thorp. In 1931 he started operating the Pure Oil Filling Station in the city of Thorp, which he continued with his son Lawrence as a partner as the United Super Service Station until his death.

Mr. Boardman was active in civic affairs and served fourteen years on the board of trustees of the village of Thorp. He was a member of the local Odd Fellow Lodge for many years.

He was united in marriage to Grace Christian in Thorp in 1907, who with ten children survive him: five sons, Lawrence, Donald, Jack and William of Thorp, and Roger of Montesano, Wash.; five daughters, Ruth, Mrs. Edward Mayer of Milwaukee, Helen, Mrs. Thomas Tobola of Cadott, Daisy, Mrs. Walter Koltis of Thorp, and Cora and Dorothy at home.

Interment took place in the East Thorp Cemetery. Five sons, Lawrence, Donald, Jack, William and Roger, and son-in-law Walter Koltis bore his casketed remains to the grave.