BRUCE CROSSING, Mich. – Melvin Jacob William Lehto, 86, of Bruce Crossing, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2019, at his residence.

Melvin was born on Jan. 5, 1933, in Bruce Crossing, a son of Wilho Leonard and Hilma (Maki) Lehto. He attended Ewen High School and graduated in 1951.

Melvin proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Prairie AD 15 for four years. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 1, 1955, and was obligated to serve in the USNR until Dec. 5, 1959.

On Feb. 27, 1956, Melvin married Fujiko Tanaka in Japan. They celebrated more than 63 years of marriage.

Melvin was employed as a HVAC technologist at SC Johnson in Racine, Wis. He retired in 1994 and moved to Bruce Crossing.

Melvin will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Fujiko; a son, Michael J. (Rebecca), Bruce Crossing; a brother, Carl, Bruce Crossing; a sister, Irene Williams, Garden City; and several nieces and nephews.

Cremation will take place, and there will be no funeral service.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.