Jay (Bird) G. Melcher

Jay (Bird) Gregory Melcher, 69, of Rockton, passed away at home with his family by his side after battling cancer on Sunday, June 2, 2024.  He was born in Marshall, Minnesota on October 2, 1954 to Vincent and Audrey (Mohr) Melcher.  He married Sancha on October 18, 1986, in Rockton, IL.  He graduated from Harlem High School in 1973 and also had many certifications from his years as a Volkswagen tech, John Deere tech and commercial machine tech.  He retired from Sems and Specials in 2019 after many years of employment.

Jay enjoyed trips to Sturgis with good friends, road trips, and traveled out west with Sancha.  As much as he liked traveling, he really liked being home and in the kitchen.  Jay could bake and cook everything from cheesecake to the BEST smoked BBQ ribs.  Other family favorites include pulled pork, cheesy popcorn, anything off the grill and literally everything else he made. 

Many thanks to OSF St. Anthony Hospital, OSF Cancer Care Center, and Northern Illinois Hospice for the care he received.

Jay is survived by his wife, Sancha Melcher; children, Stacy Adams, Dana (Al Biskup) Adams and Ambyr (Paul) Koch; grandchildren, Brooke (Jake) Billeter, Hayden (Kevin Tompkins) Sherwood, Mackenzi (Marques Emerson) Sherwood, Delaney (Steve Schwab) Sherwood, Frankie (Anastasiia Bahinska) Knight and Addison Knight; great-grandchildren, Briggs, Bernadette, Bradley, Baylee Billeter and Kobe Emerson; brothers, Jim (Donna) Melcher and Jerry (Lynda) Melcher; sister, Janice (Les) Turner; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; special people, Jodi Melcher-Sorrentino, Bruce Hayes, Vicki Miles, Dale Engelkens, Brian O’Dell, and many more close friends.  Predeceased by his parents, Vincent and Audrey Melcher; brother, John Melcher; and good friends, Delbert Bishop and Bradley Olds.

Funeral service will be at 11:00am on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory-Roscoe Chapel, 11342 Main Street, Roscoe, IL 61073 with Visitation will be Friday evening, June 7, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, also in the funeral home.  Burial in Rockton Cemetery, Rockton, IL.  In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be made to the family.

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