Philip Melby

Philip Anton Melby passed away peacefully at home in his favorite recliner on December 28, his 84th birthday, surrounded by his loving family. Phil was born in Whitehall, WI, on December 28, 1940, to Lloyd and Gladys (Nelson) Melby. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1959.

After high school, Phil attended Dunwoody Technical Institute in Minneapolis, MN. In 1960, he began a career in heavy-duty construction, building bridges, dams, and power plants for various companies. A proud member of the Carpenters Union Local 1074, Phil worked as a carpenter for over 30 years. Even after retiring, Phil's passion for contributing didn't wane; he volunteered at Sacred Heart Hospital for ten years, offering his time and care to the community.

Phil married Diane Green, and together they had three children: Denise, Bryan, and Bradley. Although their marriage ended, Phil found love again with Patricia (Green) Amdahl of Cadott. They married in 1985 and were looking forward to celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in 2025.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Gladys; his grandparents; his son Bryan; his sister Sondra Yeske; his brother Everett; and his grandchild Jesse Amdahl.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Pat, of Eau Claire; his daughter, Denise Pate of Milwaukee; his son, Bradley of Wausau; his stepchildren: Lyell Amdahl Jr. of Chippewa Falls, Jim (Nancy) Amdahl of Cadott, and Jean (Rich) Duval of Cottage Grove. Phil was a proud grandfather to Jeremy Gross Sr.; Tyler, Aiden, and Lena Melby; Kristy Kloss and Brooke Amdahl; Andy Amdahl; Ben and Claudia Duval. He also cherished his great-grandchildren: Jeremy Jr., Jelynn, and Yesina Gross; Lincoln and Dawsyn Kloss. Additionally, he is survived by his long-time friend, Dick Gartzke of Eau Claire.

As a teenager, Phil enjoyed ski jumping at the Silver Mine Hill, a passion that highlighted his adventurous spirit. Throughout his life, his greatest joys were spending time with family, dining with friends at Culver's, and cheering for his favorite sports teams: the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers.

A celebration of Phil's life will be held on Saturday, January 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mill Ridge Community Center, 4299 Mill Ridge Circle (off Kane Rd) in Eau Claire. Friends and family are invited to gather, share memories, and honor a life well-lived.

Cremation Society of Wi, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.creamationsociety-wi.com