Mayo Erwin Mellecke was given life by his creator and was born October 27, 1932 in Stillwater MN. The only child of Herman and Mabel Mellecke. He was reborn as a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism on December 4, 1932. He confessed that baptismal faith in the Rite of Confirmation on August 1, 1946 and received the gift of the Lord’s life-giving body and blood. On August 12, 1956 Mayo was united in holy matrimony to Adelma Lillian Heintz. They were blessed with five sons and two daughters.
He graduated on May 31, 1957 at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield IL.
Mayo received his Elementary and Junior High School education in Stillwater, MN. He attended Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN for four years of High School graduating in 1950. College education was attained at Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin and Concordia College, St. Paul. Seminary training was at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. His vicarage year was under the Manitoba-Saskatchewan District President, the Rev. L. W. Koehler at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, MB. Mayo served as pastor of Grace English Lutheran Church, Brandon, MB; St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milk River, AB and St. John Lutheran Church, Magrath, AB; Hope Lutheran Church, Port Coquitlam, BC; Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Walburg, SK and Zion Lutheran Church, Flat Valley, SK; Zion Lutheran Church, Dashwood ON; and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Stratford, ON; as well as a number of congregations as vacancy pastor.
On April 12, 2018 at Kitchener, Ontario God blessed Mayo with a holy death and took him home to rest in the arms of Jesus until the resurrection of the dead.
Mayo was predeceased by his wife, Adelma; son, Peter; and his parents.
He is survived by his children; David (Donna), Daniel (Elizabeth), Jonathan (Pauline), Judith, Rachel (Tim Kuhl) and Paul (Jennifer); grandchildren Melissa (Derek Millar), Charleen (John Rapp), Adam, Allison, Elise, James, Christopher, Christina, Sara, Peter, Sophie and Kaitlyn ; and great grandchildren Jasmine, John J, Alexander.
The memorial service for Mayo will be held at Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 137 Queen St. S. Kitchener, ON at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018. Visitation begins one hour prior to the service with lunch to follow the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lutherans for Life – Canada or Diabetes Canada.