Hans Leland Melgaard

Melgaard, Hans Leland Hans Leland Melgaard was 82 years old when he died on November 10, 2022 following a short illness. With his passing, the world lost one of its kindest, most gentle, hardworking and smartest men. Hans was the first child born to Josepha Louise (Knutson) and Harold Lucian Melgaard in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 3, 1940. Hans graduated from Minneapolis Central High School in 1958. While working full- time and raising his growing family, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and his MBA from the University of Minnesota. Hans began his career at Despatch Industries in 1960 and didn't fully retire until 2016. He loved to solve problems, which resulted in the development of over 50 patents ranging from osmosis filters for blood filtration to a process for transforming rayon into super strong graphite fiber as well as photovoltaic cell manufacturing equipment and a depyrogenation process. He had a good business sense that he displayed first when selling worms and brownies at Maple Lake. This was further developed as a teenager with his television and radio repair business. Hans was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Hultman and his wife, Ilona Laurel (Sjovall) Melgaard, whom he met when they joined the Sons of Norway organization on the same day. He is survived by his children Rebecca (Evan) Newton, Christine, Hans (Danielle), Timothy (Marie) and Andrew; grandchildren Michael (Kristin) Borovsky, Sean (Christine) Newton, Nicholas Borovsky, Lianna Newton, Hans Logan and Delaney Melgaard, Gabrielle, Thomas and Charlotte Melgaard; three great grandchildren; his sister Marcia Boisclair, his first wife Marcia Peterson and his nieces and nephews. It was important to Hans to provide places for his family to enjoy time together. One of these places was the cottage on Maple Lake and another was a farm house on 80 acres of meadow and woods near Hayward, Wisconsin. He loved to drive tractors, work outside and repair machines. If a garage needed to be built or the farm house needed to be remodeled, he was your guy. He could do just about anything. Hans was a world traveler. He enjoyed sailing and for a time dreamed about sailing around the world. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 Friday, December 9, 2022 at the historic Lakewood Cemetery Chapel. A reception and brunch will follow in the Mausoleum Reception area at 11:00. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Memorials to the sierraclubfoundation.org or an environmental charity of the donor's choice. washburn-mcreavy.com

Tributes

Hans Leland Melgaard

January 3, 1940 - November 10, 2022

Tributes

Hans Leland Melgaard

January 3, 1940 - November 10, 2022

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