Obituaries

May 5, 1955 to September 25, 2017

FRANCESVILLE - Melvin Richard "Mel" Streitmatter, 62, of Rensselaer, passed away at 2:13 p.m., Monday, Sept. 25, at IU Health Hospital, Lafayette. 

He was born May 5, 1955 to his parents Richard Keith and Marlene (Torbet) Streitmatter of Rensselaer. He married Julie Snelling on Aug. 21, 1976 in Middletown, Ohio.

He leaves behind his parents, his wife of Rensselaer, his daughter Shanna (Eddie) Bradley of Flintstone, GA, his son Seth (Iryna) Streitmatter and his two granddaughters Allison and Michelle of Cincinnati, and his daughter Shelly Streitmatter of Mount Vernon. Also surviving are sister Marla (Doug) Swafford of Dayton, OH, brother Mark (Becky) Streitmatter of Rensselaer, and brother Mike (Cheri) of Rensselaer. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Jean (RC) Saunders, Hamilton, OH, his sister-in-law Meliss "Missy" (Jaye) Livingston of Cincinnati, and his brother-in-law Jay Snelling of Cincinnati. Also surviving are his aunts and uncles: Dale (Barb) Streitmatter, Irvin Yaggie, Joan Gutwein, Jeryld (Tina) Torbet, Jackie (Jim) Owsley, and Joni Snively, plus additional uncles and aunts.

He is preceded in death by his son Sam Streitmatter, his father-in-law Claude Snelling Jr., his brother-in-law Ron Miller, his grandparents Charles and Gladys Torbet, and Richard and Zura Streitmatter, his aunts Doris Vass, Lois Yaggie and Edith Streitmatter, and his uncles Ward Vass and Scott Sniveley.

Mr. Streitmatter graduated from Rensselaer Central High School and was captain of the track team at Cedarville College in Cedarville, OH. He recently worked for Dr. Dave Dixon and Stock Vets. He loved God and his family. He was an amazing husband. He was a great Dad and a strong Christian. He loved his church, the First Baptist Church of Rensselaer. He loved his cattle. Most of his life revolved around cattle and the farm. He was known as the Bull Man and helped out others whenever he could. He never met a stranger. He loved people and he loved to talk to people and tell stories and jokes. He loved to make others smile. He wanted everyone to know that he went to Heaven, not because he was a good person, but because he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. EDT (3-8 p.m. CDT), Thursday, Sept.28, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. CDT), Friday, Sept. 29, at the funeral home with Pastor Daniel Hester officiating. Burial will be at Rensselaer Memory Gardens Cemetery, Rensselaer.

Donations may be made in his name to First Baptist Church of Rensselaer or the Gideons.