Melvin Earl Wannemacher, 81, died the afternoon of Feb. 6, 2013, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 24, 1931, in Celina to the late Andrew and Velma Huysman Wannemacher. On Sept. 28, 1963, he married Marilyn Knistle. She survives in Lima.

He is survived by daughters, Jayne Wannemacher of Cincinnati, Beth (Matt) Sanders of Corona del Mar, Calif., Karen (Jim) Frey of Cincinnati, and Amy Wannemacher of Lima; two granddaughters, Lauren and Reagan Frey, Cincinnati; sisters, Jeanette (Harold, deceased) Faller of Celina, Eileen (Ray) Art of Springfield, Va.; a brother, Larry Wannemacher of Wheaton, Md.; brothers-in-law, Harold, (deceased) (Laura Mae) Kinstle Jr., Larry (Betty) Kinstle; a sister-in-law, Ruthie (Kenny, deceased) Koenig; and many nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, where he was senior class president in 1949, and from the University of Dauyton in 1954. While at UD, he was a member of the baseball team and the Glee Club. After graduation, he had a long career working on marketing research for Gillette, as franchise owner of Baskin Robbins located in the Lima Mall and ending with the WORTH Center. A lifelong athlete and sports fan, he supported his local teams and his beloved UD Flyers. He took great pride in and loved attending his granddaughters' activities. He spent his retirement with his morning coffee group at McDonald's and was a frequent patron of the public library. After the love of his family, his main passion was golf. He enjoyed the game for over 70 years starting as a caddy for his dad and friends. He won many local and city tournaments and was thrilled to have had seven hole-in-ones. His career was punctuated in 2007 with his election into the Lima/Allen County Golf Hall of Fame.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Catholic Church, Lima. Entombment will be in Gethsemani Mausoleum Cemetery, Lima.

Visitation is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, Lima. A parish wake is at 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lima Public Library, Lima Junior Golf Association or the American Heart Association.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.