Dr. Melvin Curtis Schlender, DDS., 102, of Wichita, Ks, passed away Monday, May 11, 2026.  He was born July 23, 1923, in Newton, Ks, the son of Milton Charles Schlender and Edna Mae (Nanninga) Schlender.

Melvin was raised on a family farm in Moundridge and enjoyed the country life growing up with 7 other siblings.  Melvin graduated from Moundridge HS in 1941. He attended Western Union College which later became Westmar in LeMars, Iowa prior to being drafted out of college his first year into the army. The way he was told was through a letter from the Draft board stating that "his friends and neighbors had chosen him to serve in the military."

He served in WWII, 781st Antiaircraft battalion as a medic.   He was assigned to a dentist and there he discovered his passion for his future career!  He was sent to the 84th Evacuation hospital at Camp Bowie, Tx, Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Aurora, Co. and then to Pearl Harbor, Hi in 1944.  He was waiting to be part of the first invasion onto mainland Japan. The casualty rate was destined to be so high that there might not have been any Schlender branch of Melvin's family.  The dropping of the atomic bombs halted that plan but he was part of the occupying forces in Japan after the war ended. He did bring back a Japanese sword but his wife made him get rid of it because the kids had found it in the attic and were playing with it!   She also received pearls which Melvin traded cigarette rations to purchase this gift.

He returned to college in September of 1946 in Iowa, then finished at Wichita University (now WSU). He attended the University of Kansas City School of dentistry from 1949-53.

On 8/22/1947, Melvin married Rose Ina Morti at Trinity EUB in El Dorado, Ks.

Melvin and Rose Ina had 3 boys, and he practiced dentistry from 1953-1990 in Wichita, Ks.

He was a life member of the EUB and then UM Churches.  He was a devoted servant of his Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Schlender boys grew up waterskiing on weekends at Santa Fe Lake.  Melvin also waterskied when the boys got old enough to drive the boat. He liked to figure out how to fix things and could fix almost anything.  He managed rental properties and gardened after his retirement and grew beautiful flowers which we still enjoy at the Schlender house next door. He also enjoyed many kinds of music and was known to play along with the harmonica.

Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Ina, son, William Charles as well as 5 siblings, Frederick, Catherine, Lois, Harold and John.

Survivors include sons, Kurt (Lynda), David (Brenda) of Wichita, Ks, sister, Bethe Cowan of Topeka, Ks., brother, Keith (Shirley) of Holland, Oh; 9 granddaughters, 18 great grandchildren, & 1 great-great granddaughter.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 10 th,11:00am at Pleasant Valley UMC at 1600 W. 27th St. N. in Wichita, Ks. Burial will follow at Mound Township Cemetery in Moundridge, Ks. after lunch at the church.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial gift to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Melvin's honor.