HAYS — Melven Joseph Herl, 86, of Hays, died July 21 at Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell. Born June 21, 1926 in Antonino, he was the son of John J. and Caroline (Klaus) Herl. On June 2, 1947 he married Esther Sauer. She preceded him in death in 1999. He moved to Russell from the Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center in Salina, where he had been for nearly a year. He was the owner of Mel Herl Electric and a partner in Herl Brothers Cars. He was a musician with the Mel Hall Orchestra, was involved in band promotions and enjoyed gardening.
Mr. Herl was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the musicians union.  
Survivors include six children, Cindy J. (Herl) Brown and  David M. Herl, both of Independence, Mo., Jacki (Herl) Bisterfeldt of Las Vegas, Nev., Melissa M. (Herl) Lacey and husband David of Costa Mesa, Calif., Stephanie L. (Herl) Kramer and husband Bill and Mark M. Herl and wife Rachel, both of Hays; nine grandchildren Barbara (Brown) Halepeska and husband Chad of Topeka, Ks., Nicole (Bisterfeldt) Rainey and husband Aaron of Las Vegas, Nev., Amanda Kramer and fiance Theodore Brown of Ingalls, Sarah Kramer of Lawrence, Jason Kramer of Kansas City, Mo., Esther Lacey and Ivan Lacey of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Elena Herl of Hays; and four great-grandchildren Brianna and Kiefer Halepeska, Madilynn Rainey and Quinten Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lucille Koch; brothers, Alfred, Jacob, Severin, Victorinus, Edwin and Walter.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will be at the Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery in Antonino. Visitation will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m. today at Brock’s North Hill Chapel in Hays. Memorials are suggested to be used according to the wishes of the family and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided
Brock’s North Hill Chapel*
2509 Vine
Hays, KS. 67601
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 24, 2012