Melvin Galbraith

MELVIN GALBRAITH

Cedar Rapids

Melvin Howard Galbraith, 97, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Thursday, March 27, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, after a brief illness. Family members David and Jonathan Galbraith were present with him.

Mel was born in Belvidere, Ill., on June 19, 1916, the son of Bessie and Howard Galbraith. He moved to Cedar Rapids with his family (sister, Dorothy Hansen) when he was 4 years old. Mel attended local schools and was a graduate of Grant High School in Cedar Rapids. On Aug. 2, 1937, he married his beloved wife, Florence James.

Mel was a longtime, respected Cedar Rapids businessman. In the beginning of his career, he was an

engineering draftsman. He then worked with his father in the family mechanical contracting business, Galbraith Plumbing and Heating Company. Additionally, he established Approved Lighting Corporation, a lighting maintenance company, in 1947. He ran that very successfully, until his retirement in 1986, at the age of 70.

Throughout the years, Mel was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids Rotary Club and most recently, First Presbyterian Church. He was also a member at Elmcrest Country Club for 53 years. He embraced sports of all kinds and especially loved the challenge and camaraderie of the game of golf. He was a longtime Hawkeye football and basketball season ticket holder and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on his Hawkeyes in person.

Travel held his interest throughout his lifetime. He made many trips abroad as well as throughout the United States. Dear to his heart was his trip to Scotland and his research of the genealogy of the Clan Galbraith. But best of all was dancing. Nothing was better to Mel than looking forward to an evening of dancing. He was a man for all seasons and a man of simple pleasures. When he could finish a meal with a piece of pie all was right in his world. His two favorite kinds were hot and cold.

Survivors include Mel and Florence Galbraith's three children, Gary (Jacquelyn) Galbraith of Ellensburg, Wash., Carol (Gary) Klouda of Medford, Ore., and David Galbraith of Keystone.

Survivors also include six grandchildren dear to his heart, Eric (Karen) Galbraith, Alex (Jennifer Diaz) Galbraith, Anna (Geoff) Loomis, Peter (Brooke) Klouda, Suzanne (Brian) Guider and Jonathan (Alison) Galbraith. A wonderment and a joy in his later years were his five great-grandchildren, Brynli, Cooper and Addison Loomis, Caden Klouda and William Guider. At the time of his death, he was looking forward to the birth of a sixth great-grandchild in May.

Included among those celebrating his long and loving life is his dear friend and companion, Rosalie Strang.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 4, at Cedar Memorial Chapel in Cedar Rapids, with a Celebration of Life reception

following services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Greater Cedar Rapids Community

Foundation.