Melanie R. Kanode

Melanie R. Kanode, age 66, of Shelton, died Thursday, December 15, 2022, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services were held Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at Countryside Christian Church in Kearney.

Pastor Greg Swinney officiated. Memorials are suggested to the family, to be designated later. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral. com to leave a tribute or message of condolence.

Horner Lieske McBride and Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services, of Kearney, is charge of arrangements.

Melanie (Mel) was born on March 30, 1956, in Kearney to Richard and Dorothy (Laue) Hoffman. Mel attended Odessa and Elm Creek schools through eighth grade and then Kearney High School. She married Joel Kanode on January 18, 1975, in Boulder, Colorado. The couple lived north of Shelton until her passing. While being an amazing mother to four children, Mel worked for many years at Gibbon Packing Plant before becoming a full-time homemaker. Throughout her life, Mel had a variety of hobbies, including reading, embroidery, cooking, canning, quilting, doing puzzles, photography, singing, and listening to music. Mel loved flowers and was an avid collector of Barbies and gnomes. Mel exuded kindness and never met a stranger. She treated everyone as though they were a part of her family. Above all else, Mel’s greatest joy has always been her family. Spending time, playing games with, or talking on the phone with her children and grandchildren was the highlight of her days and family gatherings with all her many family members meant the world to her.

Surviving relatives include her husband, Joel, of Shelton; children and spouses, Kelinda and Aaron Gilg, of Kearney, Darth and Lisa Kanode, of Exeter, Tamara and John Snider, of Kearney, and Heather and Nathan Staskal, of Exeter; grandchildren, Clay, Daisy, Natalie, Daysan, Jozie, Rileigh, Malorie, Trayvin, Dane, Carver, Kira, Afton, Brogan, Chezney, Archer, and Pheryn; siblings, Doug (Elaine) Hoffman, of Kansas City, Missouri, Dave (Carol) Hoffman, of Amherst, LaVonne (Lyle) Hebb, of Odessa, Patty Welty-Hoffman (Carroll Sole), of Nelson, Rick (Dotty) Hoffman, of Elm Creek, Connie Slack, of Kearney, Tammy (Matt) Bartling, of Kearney, and James Hoffman, of Kearney; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Hoffman, of Maxwell, and Tricia Hoffman, of Elm Creek; and many other extended family members and friends.

Melanie is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Richard Hoffman and Dennis Hoffman; and nephew, Coby Hoffman.