Melvin E. “Mel” Lawler

January 7, 1929 — December 27, 2021

Melvin E. “Mel” Lawler, 92, passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021. Melvin was born January 7, 1929 in Stonington, Illinois, a son of the late John A. and Bertha (Hinderer) Lawler, Jr. He served in the United States Navy. He went on to work for 40 years in Quality Assurance for the Defense Logistics Agency. Mel was a long time member of the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church serving in a number of ways including caring for the cemetery. He was also a member of American Legion 499, the former AmVet Post 3 (Illinois), and was active in N.A.R.F.E. In his free time, he volunteered at Lutheran Life Villages and enjoyed watching University of Illinois sports. Surviving family include his wife of 43 years, Martha Lawler; children, Beverly (Mark) Lawler-Cowan, Randall Burris, and Michael (Lisa) Burris; five grandsons and 10 great grandchildren. Besides his parents, he was preceded in passing by his son, Alan Lawler; his second wife, Jeanne Francis McGuire; and seven siblings. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31, 2021 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 729 West Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery on Engle Road, Fort Wayne. Memorial may be made to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church or Visiting Nurse. Greenlawn Funeral Home, Fort Wayne is handling arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenlawnmpfh.com for the Lawler family.