Melvin L. Colberg

Melvin Lee Colberg

Melvin Lee Colberg, age 83 of Freeport, Illinois passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Parkview Nursing Home in Freeport, Illinois. He was born at the Freeport Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois on December 12, 1942 to the late Marvin and Ellen (Woodruff) Colberg. Melvin married Janice M Ruter on June 28, 1964 at Forreston Reformed Church in Forreston, Illinois.

Melvin attended Rural Schools in Davis, Illinois and graduated from Freeport High School in 1960. He attended Faith Reformed Church in Lanark, Illinois and later in Freeport, Illinois. He attended Northen Illinois University for a year and half and then worked for Micro Switch. He was drafted into the Army in 1966 during the Vietnam War and went to Fort Campbell, KY for basic training. He then transferred to Huntsville, AL at the US Army Ordnance, Missile and Munitions Center and School and worked in missile system repair. He then got orders to go to Korea as part of the 7th Ordnance Company, 83rd Ordnance Battalion. He was stationed in Gimpo, South Korea. He worked in nuclear weapons maintenance and maintained Honest Johns, Hawks, Nike Hercules and other missiles. Upon his return to the US, he worked at the Savanna Army Depot in Savanna, IL. He held many positions while at the Depot: Technical Writer, Equipment Specialist, Course Manager at the Ammunition School, Logistics Management Specialist at the Army Technical Center for Explosives Safety and retired as a Chief for Ordnance and Explosive Clean-up Safety for the US Army. Melvin was a member of the American Legion in Lanark, Illinois and Korean War Veterans Association. He enjoyed shooting, gunsmithing and reloading ammo and had his pilot’s license as well. He grew up on a farm and enjoyed anything farm related. especially John Deere tractors. Melvin loved spending time with his daughters and their families, especially his four grandchildren.

Melvin is survived by daughters Valerie (Brad) Woessner of Shannon, Illinois and Natalie (Andy) Grebner of Monroe, Wisconsin; his grandchildren Benjamin Woessner, Hannah Woessner, both of Shannon, IL, Jacob (Lydia) Grebner of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Madalyn Grebner, Monroe, WI; his siblings Ronald (Phyllis) Colberg, Elaine (Gene) Gassman, Arlen (Jackie) Colberg & Gloria (Gordon) Ashton, brother-in-law Roger Ruter, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Janice (Ruter) Colberg and sister-in-law, Carolyn Ruter.

The funeral service will be at Burke-Tubbs in Freeport, Illinois. Visitation will be on Friday, July 17th from 4:00 - 7:00pm and funeral on Saturday July 18th at 11:00am. Rev. Brian Janssen will officiate. There will also be a visitation Saturday from 9:30 am until the time of service. 

A memorial fund has been established in Mr. Colberg's memory.