Melvin "Mel" Harshman

Melvin Frank Harshman, 89, of Boise passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at home as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s.

Melvin was born July 29, 1935 in Parma, ID to Foster Miller Harshman and Bertha Johanna Roedel Harshman. Melvin was the 16th of 18 children born to Foster and Bertha, born at home in a house built by Foster. Melvin attended elementary school in a small Roswell country school. He attended junior high and high school in Wilder. He graduated from Wilder High School in 1953. He lettered in sports as a fly weight boxer and in music as a trumpet player. Several years later he attended Boise Jr College, graduating with a degree in Accounting. In high school, he had a friend named Carl. Carl’s younger sister caught Mel’s eye. In early 1955, he left her and enlisted in the US Army.

After basic training, he returned to ID and married this high school sweetheart and love of his life, Marie, on September 29, 1955. While stationed in MD, their first child, Gary, was born. After being discharged from the Army, Mel and Marie returned to ID and lived in Twin Falls for a brief time before moving to Boise, where they lived the rest of their lives. Their daughter, Tonya, was born after they returned to Boise.

For a short time, Mel worked as a delivery driver for American Linen. He worked the next 23 years at American Cleaning Service Company. He left there in 1980 to begin his own business, H & H Cleaning Service Company with Gary. He retired and they sold H & H Cleaning Service Company in 1997.

Mel had several hobbies, including fishing, hunting, camping, wood working, reading, puzzles, sudoku, playing games, watching and attending sporting events, concerts, and theater. He was very skilled at working with his hands. He helped people build or remodel their house. He did lots of remodeling at their own home. 

He went on a mission trip to Columbia South America to help build a church camp. While visiting Togo, W Africa, he replaced countertops, fixed vacuums, light fixtures and small appliances for the missionaries. He's also been known to be handy with a sewing machine. He had great cognitive and engineering skills. If something was broken, he was usually able to evaluate the problem and figure out how to fix it, baffling many of us. If there was a problem to solve, he was not easily defeated. He would keep working until he found the solution.

To know Mel was to love him. He was social and loved to laugh. He especially loved his family. He loved rolling on the floor with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids when they were young. He would tickle and tease them until they could stand it no longer. Dad and grandpa was deeply loved by all of us. 

Mel was a member of Whitney Bible Church for 56 years. One of his granddaughters asked him what he wanted to be remembered for. He said that he wanted to be remembered for the fact that he knew Jesus as his personal Savior; that he loved Jesus and wanted to live for Him. He wasn’t very verbal about his faith in Christ, but his life spoke volumes. Joshua 1:8 could be stated as a guide for Mel’s life. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” He lived his life according to God’s word and was a man of immense integrity and godly character. He was respected by his family and all who knew him. 

He was a member of Boise Kiwanis Club for more than 30 years and volunteered at numerous civic functions around Boise. He served as President for the Boise Club and Lt Governor for the Boise District of Kiwanis.

He is survived by his wife of 69 yrs, Edith Marie Harshman, son, Gary (Karen) of VCaldwell, ID, daughter, Tonya Ireland (Patrick) of Kansas City, MO, 4 grandchildren, Rachel Russell (Dan) of Boise, Ben Harshman of Caldwell, ID, Natalie Ireland of Kansas City, MO and Lizzie Ireland of College Station, TX, 7 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Barbara Kelso and Thelma Lammey, both of Caldwell, ID and four sisters-in-law, Diana, Linda, Jackie and Beverly and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and the following siblings and their spouses. Ervin, Blanche Brown (Lawrence), Viletta, Herman (Martha), Lenora Hume (Floyd), Elena Moore (George), Wayne (Phyllis), Doris Kohl (Bill), Ella Marie Benigno (Tony), Midred Hickman (Vin), Bill (Doris), Alden, Kenneth, Donald, Ray, 2 brothers-in-law, Frank Lammey and Harlen Kelso, as well as several nephews and a niece.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 19th, from 5-7 p.m. at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20th, at Whitney Bible Church, 2309 W. Dorian St., Boise.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Whitney Bible Church or your favorite charity.