Melva Arlene (Rassette) Peirano, 86, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
Melva was born August 24, 1935, in Dorrance, Kansas. The daughter of Walter and Minnie (Kaufman) Rassette. She grew up south of Dorrance on a farm and graduated from Dorrance High School with the class of 1953. The summer of her junior and senior year, Melva worked at the Russell State Bank. After graduation, she earned a permanent position and worked there for 35 years. She retired in 1996. Melva married Franklin Dean Peirano on October 17, 1954. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2021. Their union was blessed with three children; Alan, Brenda, Curtis. They made their home in Russell, Kansas and retired there.
She was very active in her children's sports during their youth, taught Sunday school at Saint John's Lutheran Church and loved music. She was remembered for teaching her Sunday School classes songs on the autoharp. Melva also played the piano and was the main focus each Christmas with many carols. She assisted with the Brownies and Girl Scout Troups.
Melva is survived by husband Frank of the home: son, Alan Peirano (Pam) of Derby, Kansas, daughter, Brenda (Tom) of Bristol Connecticut, son, Curtis Peirano of Lake Wood, Colorado; sisters, Cleo Plaggerman (Larry) of Salina, Kansas, Pat Schempp (Andy) of Salina, Kansas, and Betty Ehrlich of Russell, Kansas: brother, Don Rassette (Cheryl) of El Paso, Texas; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Melva was preceded in death by her father Walter and mother Minnie; brother Ronald Rassette, sister Linda Weeks and brother-in-law Leroy Chet Ehrlich.
Celebration of Melva’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 1, 2022 at the St. John Lutheran Church of Russell. A private burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.