Melvin Tatge, age 92, of Wells, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Funeral services will be at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells on Thursday, Feb. 3,

at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Paul Baker officiating. Visitation will be held at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells on Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells.

Melvin Tatge was born March 5, 1912, the son of William and Augusta (Boelke) Tatge in Wells. He was baptized on Oct. 13, 1912, and confirmed on April 10, 1927, at the First Lutheran Church in Wells. Melvin graduated from the Wells High School in 1930. On June 26, 1935, he married Esther Woollard in Wells.

He worked for the Red and White Grocery Store for 10 years, then 33 years at Del Monte Corp., and six years at OK Hardware Store. He enjoyed reading, some fishing, and looking at cars.

Melvin is survived by one son, Donald and his wife Judy Tatge of Lakeville, Minn.; three grandsons: Steve and his wife Linda Tatge of Cannon Falls, Minn., Scot and his wife Amy Tatge of Waconia, Minn., and Shawn and his wife Beth Tatge of Lakeville, Minn.; six great-grandchildren; and one nephew, Elmer (wife Caroline) Tatge of Wells.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Esther Tatge; one brother, Henry Tatge; one sister, Argesa Grau; and one niece and one nephew.