Melvin J. Thar, age 88, a longtime resident of Wheaton, IL, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. He was born on March 28, 1927 in Coloma, Michigan to John and Dorothy Thar.

Mel graduated from Watervliet High School, where he played football, baseball and basketball. He was a proud graduate of the University of Michigan. After he returned from military service in Germany, he began work at US Gypsum Company, where he met Josephine Ann Simon. They were married on January 31, 1953.

He was an executive and general manager in the insurance industry and retired in 1990. He cared a great deal about his associates and the industry and was revered by those who worked with him. He loved to play golf and had a hole-in-one. His love of golf started when he was 8 years old and worked as a caddy at Paw Paw Country Club.

He is survived by three children, William (Jacqualyn) Thar of Winfield, Anne (Kevin) Cuff of Western Springs, and Claudia (James) Suchor of Geneva, seven beloved grandchildren, Sarah, Patrick, Audrey, Sean, Joseph, Mitchell and Connor, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Josephine and his sweet granddaughter, Madalyn.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 3 at 2:00 p.m. at Gary United Methodist Church, Main and Seminary St. in Wheaton.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 ( www.alz.org )

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.