Melvin A. "Mel" Peters, age 78, of Shawano, passed away in Neenah on Saturday, November 20, 2021.  Mel was born in Shawano on April 6, 1943, son of the late Arthur and Henrietta (Gast) Peters.  Mel attended Shawano schools and graduated from Shawano High School.  In the 1980's, Mel moved to Georgia where he owned and operated a welding and fabrication shop.  After 20 years he returned to Shawano.  He was a generous man who would do just about anything to help a friend in need.  He loved the outdoors and spending time in the woods.  More recently he would sharpen various types of blades for people which allowed him to make his rounds and visit with his clients and friends.

Mel is survived by his aunt, Marilyn Kirchenwitz, cousins: Vanice Oberst, Sharon Bannow, James Gast, Curt Gast, John Gast, Kenny Gast, Susie Rudesill, Ed Kroening, Duane Kroening, Kristie Kroening-Seitz, Bill Mehlhorn, Ramona Simpson, Paul Mehlhorn, Glen Mehlhorn, Barbara Simpson, Martin Gast, Jeannie Stover, Karla Lokker, Kurt Kirchenwitz, Kathy Fortuna, and Ed Kirchenwitz, as well as many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and aunts and uncles: Edmund and Sylvia Gast, Elfreida and Louis Mehlhorn, Charlotte and Clarence Mehlhorn, Charles and Ruth Gast, and Calvin Kirchenwitz.

A funeral service for Mel will be held at Salem United Methodist Church in Red River at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:30am until the time of the service.  Memorials may be directed to Salem United Methodist Church, the Mayo Clinic for cancer research, or to the Shawano Area Community Foundation for the Melvin Peters scholarship fund.