Melvin L. Newendyke
LITCHFIELD – Melvin
Newendyke, 79, of Litchfield, entered his heavenly home on Feb. 6, 2022, during a stay at CMMC after a hard-fought battle with a nosocomial covid-19 infection.
He was born in Morrison, Ill., on March 11, 1942 to Louis and Gertie (Buikema) Newendyke. As the youngest of seven children, he grew up on the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work. After graduating from Lanark High School in 1960, he attended Bob Jones University, where he met his wife, Barbara. They were married after he graduated in 1964, and moved back to her home in Maine after their son, Cory, was born, welcoming their daughter, Brenda, soon after.
Mel was a longtime member of South Lewiston Baptist Church and recently attended Litchfield Plains Baptist Church. He worked at Livermore Falls Trust for many years, where he was active in the rotary club. He retired from the bank as executive vice president in 1998. Throughout his life and during his retirement years, he enjoyed buying and selling tractors and heavy equipment. After his retirement, he spent his days working on the farm, haying in the summers, and helping his son, Cory, with his excavation business. He served in the Maine State Legislature as the state representative for Litchfield, Monmouth, and Wales in the 125th and 126th Legislatures from 2010-2014.
Mel will be greatly missed by his wife, Barbara, of Litchfield; son, Cory Newendyke and his wife Esther of Litchfield, daughter, Brenda Pilkington and her husband Jeff of North Berwick; and four grandchildren, Jen Newendyke, Jess Newendyke, Fred Pilkington, and Katie Pilkington.
Mel was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Joyce Newendyke, Dorothy Walvoord, and Marian Reiling, and two brothers, Harold, and Vernon. He is survived by his sister, Carol June Eads.
A graveside memorial will be held at the Litchfield Plains Cemetery on Saturday, May 14 at 11 a.m.
Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
The Gideons International Processing Center,
P.O. Box 97251,
Washington, DC
20090-7251,
Samaritan’s Purse,
P.O. Box 3000,
Boone, NC 28607,
https://www.samaritanspurse.org
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