Melvin Dittmar, 90, of Scales Mound, IL, passed away Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Galena Stauss Senior Care Community. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Friday, February 16, 2024, at Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church, Schapville, IL where friends may call after 10 AM until the time of service. Friends may call from 5 to 7 PM, Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, IL. The burial will be in Scales Mound Township Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded graveside by Galena VFW Post #2665 and American Legion Post #193. He was born November 12, 1933, in rural Scales Mound, the son of Ira Raymond and Alta Elsa (Wasmund) Dittmar. Melvin graduated from Scales Mound High School with the class of 1951. He was drafted into the United States Navy on March 14, 1956, and served until his honorable discharge on November 8, 1957. Melvin married Patricia Koehler on May 16, 1959, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Scales Mound, and she preceded him in death on November 6, 2022. Melvin farmed for fifty-five-plus years for Stanley (Spud) and Marian Davis. In his early years, he helped his dad at his Case Implement dealership and continued in his dad’s footsteps as a Golden Harvest Seed Corn Dealer. He was an avid Scales Mound sports fan, attending games his entire life. He was a collector of many things including antiques, coins, and collectibles. He is survived by two daughters, Dinah (Scott) Bautsch and Dixie (Steve) Birkbeck, and seven grandchildren, Emily (Matt) Tyler, Kristina (Zach) McCullough, Elizabeth (Matt) Greene, Brandon (Tracy) Birkbeck, Kirstin (Jordan) Stanbridge, Corbin (Emily) Birkbeck, and Gavin (Haley) Birkbeck, fourteen great-grandchildren, Poppy, Jameson, Emmalyn, Anderson, Timothy, Ellie, Owen, Harper, Gavin, Scarlett, Allie, Zoey, Quinten, Dominic, and one on the way, three brothers-in-law, Michael and Vincent (Michelle) Koehler and Harold Gallagher and one sister-in-law Leslie Koehler. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two sisters, Ilene Gallagher, and Jeanette Wilhelmi, one brother Eldon, four sisters-in-law, Shirley Renne, Nancy Weida, Darlene Koehler, and Becky Koehler, three brothers-in-law, Donald Renne, Burt Wilhelmi, and David Weida, his father and mother-in-law, Clement and Nellie Koehler. The family wishes to thank Dr. Crist at Medical Associates, Galena Stauss Senior Care Community and Assisted Living staff, and Hospice of Dubuque. Your care and compassion will never be forgotten.