Melissa Renee’ Demel, 44, passed away Nov. 9, 2024, in Gladstone, Mo. She was born Oct. 1, 1980, in Great Bend, Kan. to Raymond and Patricia (Stoppel) Demel.

Melissa attended Holy Family Catholic School, Great Bend Middle School, and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1999. She went on to attend Fort Hays College. Unfortunately, she was not able to finish due to health reasons. She then moved to Gladstone where she lived for 24 years.

Melissa worked at Hillcrest thrift store when she could. She loved doing crafts, craft fairs, and antiquing. She was a big fan of the New York Rangers hockey, St. Louis Blues, and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Melissa is survived by her mother; uncles, Carl “LeRoy” Stoppel, Robert Demel and his wife Rosemary, Marvin Demel and his wife Phyllis, Allen Demel and his wife Margaret, Mark Demel and his wife Barbara; aunts, Delores Rosenberg and her husband James, Darleen Demel, Rosemary “Rosie” Schremmer; and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond L. Demel; grandparents, Carl and Mae Stoppel, Frank and Mary Demel; uncles, Earnest A. Stoppel, Kenneth Schremmer, Thomas Demel; and cousin, Lance Walters. 

Cremation has taken place. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home with Father Prakash Kola presiding. Family will be receiving from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Golden Belt Memorial Park. Memorials have been designated to Rheumatoid Arthritis Association or Diabetes Association, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 21, 2024