Melvin R. Selle

Melvin (Mel) Russell Selle, age 86, was brought into eternal glory with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, October 13, 2025, in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Mel was born in Dale, Wisconsin, on April 16, 1939, to Walter and Lorena (Timm) Selle. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran in Dale. On August 4, 1962, Mel was united in marriage to Lorraine Schroeter at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac. They were faithful members of WELS churches throughout their marriage, including nearly forty years at Martin Luther in Neenah and fifteen at St. Peter Lutheran in Appleton.

In 1957, Mel Selle was in the first graduating class at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. He earned multiple advanced degrees. Always a teacher, Mel taught high school science and math at FVL, Waupun, Luther High Onalaska, and Neenah. He rounded out his career as the Media Consultant for Neenah Joint School District.

The chief calling upon Mel’s life was to point others to the Cross of his Savior. Whether photographing a sunset, reeling in a bluegill, or telling a story, he revealed this deep hope. With an engineer’s mind and an artist’s eye, he sharpened his woodworking skills and turned out thousands of wooden masterpieces. While many were made for the sheer enjoyment of discovery and experimentation, many more were designed and crafted to meet the needs of others, showing love through the act of gift-giving.

With adoration and respect, Mel empowered his daughters. He provided them, along with their husbands, a strong foundation to raise their families. His grandchildren cherish countless memories with their grandpa, who was their walking, talking encyclopedia, explaining the intricacies of God’s Creation in matters great and small. He was a steady presence in their lives. In recent years, Mel joyfully welcomed two endless sources of amusement and wonder, his great-grandsons.

Rejoicing in Mel Selle’s heavenly homecoming are his beloved wife of 63 years Lorraine, their dearly loved daughters and sons-in-law Sharon (Brad) Abel and Judy (Russ) Leonard, grandchildren Tim (Sarah) Leonard, Luther (Emily) Abel, Eric (Kristen) Leonard, Alexandria (Brennan) Sielaff, and Moses (fiancee Haley) Abel, great-grandsons Walter and Otto Sielaff, siblings Ray Selle and Rosie (Dave) Bunnow, nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends. Mel is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lorena Selle, his parents-in-law, Otto and Alice Schroeter, his sister and brother-in-law, Doralee (Rollie) Radichel, and his sister-in-law, Helen Selle.

A visitation at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, N2740 N French Road, Appleton, Wisconsin, will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 PM on Thursday, October 23, 2025. A second visitation will take place in the same location on Friday, October 24, from 9 to 11 AM prior to the 11 AM funeral service. A lunch reception will follow. The committal will be at 2:30 PM at Dale Union Cemetery west of Medina on Highway 96.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Peter Lutheran Endowment Fund or Fox Valley Lutheran High School.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. -John 14:27 NIV