Melbourne Eggen Hegge Obituary (1924 - 2016)

Melbourne Eggen Hegge (91) passed away after a short illness on February 26, 2016. He was born May 14, 1924 in Beloit, WI, son of Tilmen and Pearl (Eggen) Hegge. When he was a small child they moved to a farm in the Orfordville area. He attended Lawver elementary and Orfordville High School. He worked at the Beloit Corporation for 37 years. In 1944 Mel married Beverly Bennett (dec. 1980) in Janesville, WI. To this union two daughters were born, Jean Marie and Patricia Ann. Mel built his house in Rockton, IL in 1951 and lived there the rest of his life. In 1983 he married Lorraine Manthei (dec. 1997) in Rockton, IL. In 1998 he married Ann Furgason in Beloit, WI. Mel was a pilot and taught flying lessons for over 30 years. He also took wedding pictures and pictures for "Old Time" or Polka band album covers. Mel loved dancing, especially in his younger years when he could always be found on the dance floor doing the "hot" polka. Mel enjoyed trains, taking many train trips, visiting train museums and building an elaborate model train display in his basement. He was a long-time member of Star Zenith Boat Club in Beloit, WI, loved boating with his pontoon boat and provided boat rides to nursing home residents for 40 years. In his later years he enjoyed his collection of Economy tractors and the Rock River Thresheree each Labor Day weekend. Mel and Ann enjoyed their winters at Crystal Lake Village in Wauchula, FL, where he enjoyed playing shuffleboard with his friends. Throughout his life, he enjoyed bike riding and was riding his bike regularly with Ann in Rockton and in Florida up until February 14, 2016. Mel was a member of the River of Life United Methodist Church, The Rock River Thresheree Association, and the Moose Lodge of Janesville, WI. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and daughter, Patricia Wishop of Rockton, IL. Grandchildren: Jason (Brandi) Lowe, Urbana, IL; Erik Lowe, Chicago, IL; Kent (Amanda) Wishop, Winnebago, IL; Laura (Eric) Peterson, Roscoe, IL; and Angela (Kevin) Morrison, Roscoe, IL. Great grandchildren: Carter and Heather Lowe, Urbana, IL; Alen, Connor and Blake Wishop, Winnebago, IL; Owen and Clara Peterson, Roscoe, IL; and Ryan, Kate and Jake Morrison, Roscoe, IL. Step-children: Richard Michael, Phoenix, AZ; Dave (Chris) Manthei, Rockford, IL; John (Joetta) Furgason, Jefferson, WI; Robert Furgason, Afton, WI; and Michael (Jane) Furgason, Edgerton, WI. Sister: Meme (Duke) Francis, Janesville,WI. Predeceased by: two wives, Beverly and Lorraine; daughter, Jean Manthei; son-in-law, John Wishop; and step-son, Steven Furgason. Funeral ceremonies will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 2016 in River of Life United Methodist Church 2345 Prairie Avenue Beloit, WI. Burial will be in Luther Valley Cemetery, Beloit, WI. Visitation will be held at McCorkle Funeral Home - Rockton Chapel 767 N. Blackhawk Blvd., Rockton, Illinois from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2016.