Tekla Mary Melby, age 88, of Whitehall died on Tuesday, May 6th, 2014 at the Gundersen Tri-County Hospital in Whitehall.

Tekla was born in the town of Chimney Rock, Trempealeau County, WI on January 12th, 1926 to August and Mary (Pierzina) Kwosek and graduated from Independence High School on May 26th, 1944.Tekla married Ardell Melby on May 7th, 1947, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Independence, WI.

Tekla worked for Dutch Maid in LaCrosse before returning home. She began her thirty-three year career at the Trempealeau County Health Care Center in rural Whitehall in 1953. She started as a cook but primarily worked as the Laundry Supervisor until her retirement in 1985.

Tekla did volunteer work in many different capacities at the Trempealeau County Health Care Center and at Tri-County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home beginning in 1956. She led the rosary for the residents at the nursing home for many decades.

Tekla was devoted to her Lord and cherished time spent with her family. Her other passions included: caring for her flowers, following the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers, shopping, bowling at Midway, and her lifelong pleasure of listening and dancing to the music of Ardell and his bands.

Tekla was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and was active in its various organizations. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Independence.

Tekla enjoyed life to the fullest. She always had a smile, time, and kind words for everyone she encountered-family, lifelong friends, and strangers.

Tekla is survived by her husband, Ardell; a son, Roger (Shirley) Melby of rural Pigeon Falls; a daughter, Carol (John) Hestekin of Elk Mound; three grandchildren, Craig (Ashley) Johnson of Eau Claire, Tiffany (fiancé, Justin Crotty) Melby of Monroe and Stephanie Melby of Eau Claire;two great-grandchildren, Hayden and Hunter Johnson; a brother, Thomas Kwosek of West Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to her parents, Tekla was preceded in death by a brother, John Kwosek and five sisters, Julia Kulig, Clara Abrahamson, Helen Kwosek, Solphie Halverson, Agnes Back, and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, May 13th 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Saint John's Catholic Church with burial in the Lincoln Cemetery, both in Whitehall. Father Woodrow Pace will officiate.

Visitation will be Monday, May 12th, 2014 from 4-7 p.m. at the Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall where a Christian prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. followed by a parish rosary. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.