In loving memory of

Frances Dale Elwood Melvold
August 18, 1923 - November 27, 2017

Frances Dale Elwood Melvold, 94, of Maquoketa died Monday afternoon, November 27, 2017 at Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa from complications of dementia.

Her body was donated to science at the University of Iowa Carver School of Medicine in Iowa City.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Maquoketa United Church of Christ with the Rev. Stephanie Haskins officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 10, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Jan. 11 at the church.

Frances was born August 28, 1923 in Elma, Iowa, the first of four children born to Francis Dale and Marian Lucretia George Elwood. She grew up in Cresco, Iowa, and graduated from Cresco High School. She attended the University of Iowa. She taught school in Norway, Iowa for about two years during World War II.

On February 19, 1944 she married Navy Lt. Cmdr. Robert Thomson Melvold of Cresco in the chapel of the U.S. Naval Base in New Orleans, La., where he was stationed at the time during World War II.

After his discharge from active duty following the end of World War II, the couple embarked on their dream of owning and operating a community newspaper and searched for a newspaper to acquire. They came to Maquoketa and on May 1, 1946 purchased the weekly Maquoketa Community Press. Thus began a partnership in the community newspaper and commercial printing businesses that continued for nearly 60 years, until her husband's death in 2005.

On Jan. 1, 1952 they purchased the rival Jackson Sentinel and merged the two newspapers into twin weeklies and later, into a semiweekly. They acquired the DeWitt Observer in 1954, the Galena, Ill., Gazette in 1961, and the Bellevue Herald-Leader in 1972. Together with their partner in DeWitt, Robert Parrott, they founded the North Scott Press in 1968. They were active members of the Iowa Newspaper Association and were Heritage Club members of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.

They also spun off the commercial printing activity of the Maquoketa newspapers in the 1950s and formed a separate company, Eastern Iowa Printing Co., later reorganized in 1973 as Tri-State Graphics. Frances was involved in the management of that business, which at one time had sales offices in all of the affiliated newspapers and operated quick-print shops in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. She and her husband also owned a printing business, Englewood Print Center, for several years in Englewood, Fla.

Frances was active in the Maquoketa United Church of Christ, serving as Sunday school superintendent for many years and holding state-level positions in the church. She served on the Iowa Vocational Education Advisory Board, including a year as chair, as an appointee of Gov. Robert Ray.

She worked to provide services to people with disabilities and was instrumental in the founding of Area Residential Care in Dubuque and of the Jackson County Developmental Activity Center, later known as DAC Inc. and now Imagine the Possibilities, which serves individuals with disabilities.

She also was instrumental in the formation of the Jackson County Volunteers organization, which provided volunteer help to many organizations and projects. She was instrumental in starting the annual Thanksgiving Day community dinner. She was a 60-year-plus member and past president of Chapter BX of PEO Sisterhood in Maquoketa.

She held strong views on political issues and social causes. She actively supported causes for world peace, social justice, disarmament and conservation. She joined marches in Chicago during the civil rights movement and was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War.

She was an advocate of conservation of natural resources. She and her husband completed the Master Conservationist course through Iowa State University Extension. She was an active member of the Democratic Party.

She enjoyed reading and playing bridge and took up golf with her husband in their later years.

She enjoyed spending winters with her husband and friends at Boca Grande, Fla., where they owned a condominium for nearly 30 years. She also enjoyed family houseboat trips on the Mississippi River and summer family vacations at resorts on lakes in northwest Wisconsin. She and her husband took several trips abroad in their later years. Most of all, she enjoyed family gatherings for any occasion.

She resided in her home until April of 2017, when she moved to Clover Ridge Place.

Survivors include three sons, Douglas (and Mary) and John (and Mary McAllister), both of Maquoketa, and Robert "R.B." (and Beth) of Park Falls, Wis.; three daughters, Miriam (Mrs. William) Brown of Iowa City, Dr. Janis (Mrs. David Pesetsky) Melvold of Lexington, Mass., and Annette Sohl of Maquoketa; six grandsons, Tim (and Hillary) Melvold of Peosta, Tyler Sohl of Portland, Ore.; Noah Brown of Brookline, Mass., Benjamin Pesetsky of Somerville, Mass., Jonathan Pesetsky of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Jacob Melvold of Orlando, Fla.; two granddaughters, Emily (Mrs. Levi) McClimon of Waverly, Iowa, and Rachel (Mrs. Eric) Manson of Maquoketa; one great-grandson, Landon Melvold of Peosta; two great-granddaughters, Valerie and Tessa McClimon of Waverly; one brother, Henry (and Carol) Elwood of Cresco, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 61 years on October 28, 2005; one sister, Mildred Butler; and one brother, George Elwood.

Memorials may be given to the Maquoketa United Church of Christ, the Jackson County Conservation Board or the Community Foundation of Jackson County.

The family expresses special appreciation to the staffs of Home Instead, Clover Ridge Place and Hospice of Jackson County for their attentive care to Frances during the final stages of her life.

Online Condolences may be left at www.carsonandson.com.

Tributes

Sharon wrote on Mar 21, 2018:

"It's very difficult losing loved ones in death. So many years go by so very quickly. Rev. 21:3,4 gives us such a hope for the future. "

Ann Ernst wrote on Dec 15, 2017:

"I served with Frances on the orgiinal Area Residential Care Board. She was a bright, thoughtful and caring woman. Ann R. Ernst"

Gayle Kleinsmith Hargrafen wrote on Dec 6, 2017:

"To Mim, not Mom.Spell check,gotta love it."

Gayle Kleinsmith Hargrafen wrote on Dec 6, 2017:

"Mom,I was so sorry to hear about your Mom.I was always in such awe of her,especially her thoughts and actions against the Vietnam War and her participation in the Civil Rights Movement.What an amazing role model you and your siblings had.I think of you often,and hope you are doing well.My thoughts and prayers to you and all your family.Gayle"

Annette Radtke wrote on Dec 4, 2017:

"So sorry for your loss she was a awesome person she will be deeply missed by many"

Clark Elwood wrote on Dec 4, 2017:

"We send our sincere sympathy to the Melvold and Elwood families. We mourn the loss of your mother, sister and our aunt. We are thinking of you all. Sally and Clark Elwood"

Ruth (Burrichter) Wilson wrote on Nov 30, 2017:

"To all the Melvold family, What great memories I have of staying with your family and sharing visits through our wonderful Aunt Anna (Stender). Your mother was a great role model and I enjoyed so much working with her at the newspaper office as she took orders for the printing business and I sat at the reception desk during my summer college breaks. My sympathy to all your family from Ruth (Burrichter) Wilson"

Rosie Morehead wrote on Nov 30, 2017:

" As I sit here in the offices once occupied by Francis and RT, it is hard to realize how many years have gone by. To all the Melvold family, I am thinking of you. You took care of your mother throughout her senior years and that should make you really proud. Francis (and RT) helped for many years making this community better. It is so sad at first but keep thinking of all the wonderful memories you all have about your mom. PS- I just have to say that Francis is right now conversing with the Lord telling him how things should be in heaven!!!"

Darrel and Sharon Rettig wrote on Nov 30, 2017:

"To the Melvold Family. You have our deepest sympathy. Frances gave of herself to help make life better for others. Be proud of her legacy."

Connie Bonney wrote on Nov 29, 2017:

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family, for quite a few years i worked for the newspaper, and got to know Frances, Bob, and the family... She always was such a happy person with a wonderful smile...a legacy left behind, but lot of good memories to carry you threw on sad times."

Kim Galloway wrote on Nov 29, 2017:

"Sympathy and prayers to the entire Melvold family. Francis left quite the legacy. So sorry for your loss."

CHERYL HARTWIG wrote on Nov 29, 2017:

"MIM AND FAMILIES IM SO VERY SORRY FOR UR LOSS"

Sue & Mike Van Buer wrote on Nov 29, 2017:

"Our deepest, heartfelt sympathy to all of Frances' family--quite an amazing woman and such a legacy she leaves. So very sorry for your loss."