Melvin Laverne Cohnen

Melvin Laverne Cohnen, 88, died March 24, 2020 at home in Houston, TX following a long battle with heart disease. Melvin was born December 22, 1931 in Springfield, IL to William Peter Cohnen and Emma Lefflebein Cohnen of Springfield.

Melvin was confirmed on May 16, 1948 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL and completed his military service in the U.S. Army at Fort Custer, Michigan, receiving an honorable discharge in 1952. Melvin married the love of his life, Carol Ann Weatherbee, on October 29, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL, where they resided until 1970 when he moved his family to Houston, TX. They were married 58 years at the time of his passing. Melvin was the youngest of 6 children and was fiercely devoted to his family.

Besides family, the second love of his life was cars, which was his hobby and his livelihood for his entire career. He was self-employed as a transmission mechanic and was a collector and competitor at antique car shows, earning a number of trophies. He enjoyed this pastime with his wife Carol and sons Alan and Bill and belonged to Mustang and Thunderbird car clubs in Houston for a number of years. Melvin was a fan of actor Alan Ladd and was a lover of animals.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, William and Emma Cohnen of Springfield, IL, his siblings Corrine Cohnen Pleny and husband Pete Pleny of Vancouver, WA, Alvin Cohnen and wife Evelyn Cohnen of Portland, OR, Leroy Cohnen and Wife Blanche Cohnen, Marvin Cohnen and wife Elfie Cohnen, Leo H. Cohnen, and granddaughter Mary Ann Jones Gibson, all of Illinois. At the time of his death in 2020, he was survived by his daughter and son-in-law Connie Cohnen Mancini and Dan Mancini of Florida, son and daughter-in-law Alan Laverne Cohnen and Pam Cohnen of Waller, TX, his daughter and son-in-law Alana Cohnen Roberts and Terry Roberts of Montgomery, TX, and son William Eugene Cohnen of Houston, TX as well as granddaughters Christina Langan Files of Springfield, IL, Heather Echols of Conroe, TX and Carrie Parr and husband Andrew Parr of Lincoln, NE. He leaves a legacy of great-grandchildren Kailey and Kallel of Texas, Hudson, Landon, and Grayson of Nebraska, and Joe, Carson, James, Aryanna, Serenity and Menphyz of Illinois along with step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Burial and a graveside service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 10:00am at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, TX, officiated by Pastor Darrin Holub of Burton, TX. Service will be followed by an intimate gathering of immediate family only.