Melvin L. Hagberg

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Melvin L. Hagberg, 86, of South Sioux City died Saturday, July 23, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital after a short illness. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 28, 2011 at Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City, with the Revs. David Denzer and Tom LoVan officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Iowa Army National Guard. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be submitted at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Melvin was born Aug. 18, 1924, in Boone, Iowa, the son of Carl and Helen (Christianson) Hagberg. Mel grew up in Boone and came to Sioux City with his family at age 15. He graduated from Sioux City Central High School. Mel attended Morningside College. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying B-25s and A-24s in the South Pacific. He was shot down and awarded the Purple Heart. After the war, Mel returned to Sioux City and graduated from Morningside College. Mel married his second wife, Evonne O'Connell, on April 27, 1968, in South Sioux City. Mel worked as a salesman for Swift and Co. He became a CPA and worked for Williams and Company before opening his own CPA office, Melvin L. Hagberg CPA, in South Sioux City. He operated that office for several years. He was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church, Happy Hearts Club, Triangle Masonic Lodge and Omadi Masonic Lodge No. 5 A.F. and A.M. He was a member of the Shrine Chanters, Cornhusker Patrol and Abu Bekr Shrine Temple. Survivors include his wife, Evonne of South Sioux City; his children, John (Marilyn) Hagberg of Sioux City, Jim Hagberg of Atlanta, Ga., Lisa (Dan) Hagberg Maryott of Canton, S.D., Linda Groetken of Sioux City and Randy (Shirley) Tucker of Phillipsburg, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Susan; a brother; two sisters; a stepson, Kirk Tucker; and a son-in-law, Francis Groetken.