Steven Vernon Melcher

STEVEN VERNON MELCHER, age 71 of Janesville, passed away from heart complications on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato.

He was born on March 24, 1953, in Sacramento, California, a son of Ervin and Charlotte (Hutter) Melcher. He graduated from Waseca High School – Class of 1971. On June 15, 1974, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Conway, in Waseca. Steve worked in construction as well as a variety of odd jobs, until he opened his own chimney sweep company in 1982, Melcher’s Power Vac, which he worked very hard to build, including going door to door trying to build his clientele. He was very people oriented and never met a stranger. In 1985, Liz began working for the company. In 1989, Melcher’s Power Vac began dryer vent and HVAC cleaning, built on to their home office and hired more employees to help the business thrive and to always stay busy. Steve and Liz continued to own the company until they sold the business and retired in 2019. He was a great father, a loving husband and extremely doting of his wife Liz. His family was one of the most important things to Steve, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling and taking vacations, a naturist at heart, geocaching, camping, local VARS Viking Amateur Radio Society (ham radioing), tractors, and hobby farming. He was a volunteer at Farmamerica, in Waseca. He was a member of the Minnesota Valley Corvette Club, Waseca CERT Community Emergency Response Team, and Christ Community Church.

He is survived by his wife, Liz; his children, Timothy Steven (Tiffany) Melcher of Janesville, Daniel Richard (BrieAnna) Melcher of Owatonna, Kathryn Louise (Trent) Anderson of Janesville; grandchildren, Madison (Grant Huinker) Melcher, Victoria Podratz, Jahdyn Melcher, Isaac Melcher, Olivia Oestreich, Chase Melcher, Gavin Anderson, Maci Anderson, Colton Anderson; siblings, Dave Melcher (Jeannie Olson), Ron Melcher, Don (Susan) Melcher; brother-in-law, Terry (Laurie) Conway Jr., as well as several nieces, nephews and extended relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Terrance Sr. and Marcella Conway. 

Funeral services will be held, Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Christ Community Church in Waseca. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. In Lieu of Flowers, please make donations to the Janesville Fire and Rescue or Waseca CERT.

Janesville Fire Station

101 N Mott St.

Janesville, MN 56048

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

122 3rd Avenue NW

Waseca, MN 56093