Melvin Duaine Pfeifer

HEYBURN - Melvin Duaine Pfeifer, 79, of Heyburn, reunited with family in heaven on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at Cassia Regional Medical Center in Burley.

He was born in Zeeland, N. Dak., Sept. 25, 1935, the fifth of nine children born to TheoPhil “Dave” Pfeifer and Elsie Stoller Pfeifer. After arriving in Idaho, the family made their home in Heyburn, where Melvin spent his early years. His teenage years were spent in Paul, living with his grandparents, John and Elizabeth Stoller, while he attended Paul High School.

After enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1954, Melvin married Carol Dean Cantrel in Feb. of 1955. Melvin and Carol traveled all across the United States during the twenty years of his military service. They had seven children in almost as many states. After retiring from his military service, Melvin was hired at the A.A.I. Corporation and sent to Reykjavik, Iceland, working as a consultant for the United States Air Force. While stationed in Iceland, Melvin met Magna Gudmundsson. They were married in Iceland on Sept. 28, 1985. After traveling the world together during his 20 years at A.A.I., they settled in the family home in Heyburn when Melvin retired, bringing with them his beautiful Icelandic horses. Magna passed away in August of 2002, after battling cancer. Melvin soon met Yoosoon Ready, fell in love, and married her on Feb. 14, 2008. Melvin and Yoosoon spent their time together traveling around Idaho and Washington, camping with family, gardening, and training his Icelandic horses on his “hobby farm.”

Melvin expressed musical talent at an early age and learned to read music and to play the saxophone. He was also a talented singer, and while living in Everett, Wash., he became a member of the S.P.E.B.Q.A., (a national barbershop singing organization). After retirement and resettling back into the family home in Heyburn, Melvin rejoined the barbershoppers and sang for years with the Snake River Flats. Melvin sang in groups and solo every year at the Sharing and Caring Festival in Rupert and the Festival of Trees in Burley. He also volunteered weekly at the local senior citizen homes and sang many “oldies” to the residents. Even though his eyesight eventually failed, his voice never did.

Melvin was a deeply religious man, serving as president of the local Gideon’s International until the time of his death. He touched the lives of the local school children and many at the College of Southern Idaho, where he could be seen handing out copies of the Bible. Melvin often organized the annual dinner for all of the church pastors in the area and spoke at all church denominations in the area, spreading the word of the Gideons. He served as Trustee at the Paul Congregational Church and was an usher there until the time of his passing. The Paul Congregational Church was Melvin’s second family. His love of life and family carried him through his later years, giving him strength and courage. He was a just and fair man, who stood for what he taught and followed through on his commitments. We have reason to rejoice and be of good cheer because of the great man he was and we have every reason to believe that he has arrived in the heaven that he believed in.

He is survived by his wife, Yoosoon Pfeifer; children, Dennis (Laura) Pfeifer of Spokane, Wash.; Cathy Pfeifer (Dan Graff) of Murtaugh; Gudmundur (Sigurlaug) Olafsson of Iceland; Cheryl (Somchai) Treeparsert of Panama City, Fla.; Magdalena Krajniak of Bend, Ore.; Diana Pfeifer of Panama City, Fla.; Michael (Carol) Pfiefer of San Antonio, Tex.; Peggy Pfeifer (Christopher Ellis) of Panama City, Fla.; and Mark Pfeifer of Panama City, Fla; siblings, Merlyn (Debbie) of Heyburn; JoAnn (Kent) Bryan of Emmett; Sharon (Bob) Hissung of Burley; and Lester “Butch” (Sue) of Burley; 23 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his parents; ex-wife, Carol; wife, Magna; daughter, Hrafnhildur Olafsdottir “Habba;” three sons-in-law, Brian Krajniak, Kimball Clark, Clarence “Sam” Banton; daughter-in-law, Helga Jonsdottir; three brothers, Gelmar “Dale,” Tilmus “Jack,” Gerald “Jerry;” and sister, Lela Faye West.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Ebenezer Congregational Church, 129 N. 2nd W., in Paul, with Larry Dessel officiating.

Arrangement have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.