Page created by: Cindy Kaukeinen

Mel Kaukeinen didn't have an easy life but he would say he had a great one. He grew up in a small town with lots of family and friends. His father passed away when he was 8, and he was raised by a single parent. He did farm work, played in the high school band, sang in the chorus and met the woman of his dreams in high school.

He left home at 17 and started his career in retail, working for the F W Woolworth Corporation He worked his way from stock boy to the Stationary buyer for the entire corporation, traveling overseas many times. He then went to work for AC Moore for another ten years.

Along he way he raised a family of three children, six grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. He went from Mel, to Dad, to the name he loved best Pop.

He had many hobbies, including collecting coins and stamps, gardening and yard work, camping, backpacking, following the Orioles, the BALTIMORE Colts, Ravens, and University of Maryland. He loved spending time with all his family (including the four legged members).

Mel was first diagnosed in 2006. He tried many treatments and worked with Johns Hopkins Hospital. He participated in any trial that would have him. Mel went down fighting on April 26, 2019. He never gave up, he never complained, and ALWAYS thought of everyone else first.