Melvin Thomas Kaasa, 87, of North Mankato, was at home when he went peacefully to be with his savior on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Evangelical Covenant Church in North Mankato, with the Rev. Kevin Melin officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Clarks Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mankato Mortuary. Memorials may be given to Echo Food Shelf, Salvation Army, or the donor&8217;s choice.

Melvin was born on July 14, 1920, in Kennedy. He was the son of Gilbert and Minnie (Quist) Kaasa. His family then moved to the Clarks Grove area where he attended country school (having to walk up hill both ways). Melvin graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. In January of 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country for six years. Melvin was stationed on the USS Saratoga, USS Kane, USS Takanas Bay, and finished his career on the USS Ranger with the rank of Warrant Officer in April 1946.

Melvin was united in marriage to the love of his life, Dorothy Nelson on Nov. 18, 1944, in San Diego, Calif. They enjoyed 63 years together and shared in raising two children. After the Navy, Melvin went to the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, graduating in Nov. of 1948 with a business degree. He worked as an Internal Revenue agent in Waseca, Worthington, and retired from the Mankato office in 1975. Melvin was the mayor of Lake Crystal from 1976 to 1982. During this time he became active in helping to form the Minnesota Association of Small Cities. He was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in North Mankato, where he served on the trustee board. Melvin also volunteered at the Summit center doing income taxes for others and was president for two terms with NARFE Chapter 282 of Mankato. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, collecting coins, faceting gem stones, bird watching, traveling, spending winters in Texas and summers at Pathfinder Village in Hinckley.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Dorothy Kaasa of North Mankato; son, Thomas Kaasa of International Falls; daughter, Kristi Burtzel of North Mankato; grandchildren, Becky (Lawrence) Simmons of St. Paul, Rachel Kaasa of Bahrain, Persian Gulf, Jason Burtzel of Mankato, and Lisa Burtzel of North Mankato; one great-grandson, Henry Simmons; also many nieces, nephews, and sisters-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Orton, Robert, Gordon and Kenny; and three sisters, Ada, Marjorie and Helen.