Corinne Marie (Wenzel) Melvin – Rochester

Corinne Marie Melvin, 90, of Rochester, MN, died Thursday, December 21, 2023, at Madonna Towers Skilled Nursing Facility, Rochester, MN.

Corinne was born on August 26, 1933, in Wall Lake, IA to George and Clara (Reidmiller) Wenzel.  She was the third of four children, Leon, Keith, and Karen.  She graduated as valedictorian of her Wall Lake High School Class.  Attended Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education.  She also studied at Winona State University and received a Masters of Arts in Education.

After college Corinne taught elementary education in Sioux City, IA then moved to Rochester, MN to continue her teaching career.  In Rochester she met and married Duane Melvin, of Plainview, MN, on July 25, 1963 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester.  The couple made their home in Rochester where Corinne continued to teach elementary education in the Rochester Public Schools for forty years.  She taught at Harriet Bishop, Washington, Ben Franklin, and Jefferson elementary schools.  Her husband Duane was the maintenance supervisor at Olmsted Community Hospital.  The couple have two sons, Rev. Msgr. Thomas Melvin, a priest of the Diocese of Winona – Rochester and Dr. Richard Melvin, Ph.D. (Dr. Dana Collins, Ph.D.) of Duluth, MN.

Corinne enjoyed reading, music, cooking, traveling with family, and with Duane after their retirement.  Participating in her Catholic faith was very important to her and she volunteered for numerous church activities at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; including Council of Catholic Women, funeral luncheons, director and teacher of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Program, and bible study.  She also was active in a retired teacher sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa.

Corinne is survived by her sons, her sister Karen Meade of Louisville, KY, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents George and Clara, her husband Duane, and her brothers Leon and Keith.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Rochester, MN with Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Melvin as the celebrant.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.  Burial will be in St. Joachim Cemetery, Plainview, MN.

Memorials are preferred to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Rochester, MN or Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona, MN.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com .