Mel was born on August 1, 1934, in Hills, Iowa to Clair and Emma Shradel Rummelhart. He was raised in Hills and attended school there. He graduated from City High in Iowa City with the Class of 1952. From 1956 to 1958 he served with the United States Army in Korea. On August 22, 1959, he was married to Sally Littrell in Hills. The couple lived in Iowa City, where he worked for Jaydon Distributors. The family moved to Grinnell in 1971 and he owned and operated V & M Sales and later as a supervisor at the HyVee Food Store in Grinnell. He retired in 1997. Mel was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell, the Knights of Columbus and the Eagles Lodge of Grinnell. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking and playing cards. He was also an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan. He is survived by his wife, Sally Rummelhart of Grinnell; five daughters, Deb (Gary) Clinch of Grinnell, IA, Deannie (John) Hoyt of Newport Richie, Florida, Laurie Rummelhart of Newton, IA, Julie (Greg) McManus of Buffalo Prairie, IL and Missy (Gene) Hauser of Mount Vernon, IA; ten grandchildren; and two sisters, Rita Maher of Cedar Rapids, IA and Joan Abercrombie of Barstow, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Susie Rummelhart in 1965. Memorials may be directed to Progress Industries of Newton or to the Tuberous Sclerosis Foundation and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.