Strutt Family Tree

Melva May Perkins was born in Dodgeville, Wis. January 9, 1916. Love, family, loyalty, and the transcendent power of music, are the interwovern themes of her life. In 1937, with a B.A. from Platteville State Teachers college, Melva began her teaching career in Warren, Il. She was well know in the area for her good bands, chorus', and her church choir. She directed pagents for the Fair Board, community plays, and High School plays and musicals. She married Leroy "Pete" Geach in 1940. They lived in Warren. Pete was a banker and a musician. They raised four children, Dick, Donna, Bob, and Cindy. Pete died on Nov. 23, 1968 of a heart attack. Melva continued teaching until she retired in 1972 and married Henry Dettwiler. Henry and Melva built a home in Apple Canyon Lake, where they lived until they moved to Freeport, Il. in 1996. They are now living in Parkview Retirement Home in Freeport. - Feb. 2002 OBITUARY Melva M. Geach Dettwiler, 90, a resident of Parkview Home in Freeport, formerly of Warren, died Thursday, Feb. 23,2006, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. She was born on January 9, 1916, in Dodgeville, Wis. to Richard and Ella (Edam) Perkins. Melva arried LeRoy "Pete" Geach in Dodgeville, Wis. on June 20, 1940. He died in November 1968. Later, Melva married Henry Dettwiler in DesMoines, Iowa on July 1, 1972. He died in Feb. 2003 Melva was a music teacher at the school in Warren for 30 years. She was a member of Warren United Methodist Church. She belonged to the Order of Eastern Star and the Stockton Country Club. Melva enjoyed golfing, boating on Apple Canyon Lake and the Mississippi River, and directng both the church choir and the community pagents. Survirors include one son, Richard (Janice) Geach of Melbourne Beach, Fla.: one stepson, Ronald (Julie) Dettwiler of Montgomery, Ala,: two daughters, Donna Geach of Janesville, Wis, and Cindy (Rod Wolf) Dayo of Freeport: two stepdaughters, Delores (Frank) Ward and Ann (Steve) Young, both of Freeport: one daughter-in-law, Nora Geach of Warren: two brothers, Forest (Charlotte) Perkins of Whiltewater, Wis. and Jack Reese of Monroe, Wis. : one sister, Joan (Dr. Donald)Strutt of McGregor, Iowa, also 13 grandchildren and several great-grand children. She was preceded in death by her two husbands; one son, Robert, : one brother, Butch : and one sister, Joyce. Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. on Sunday at Warren United Methodist Church. Visistation will be from 1 P.M. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Warren. A memorial fun has been established in her name.