Melvin Rasmussen died early this year. There was a man I could look up to. He wasn't a war hero, or a star athlete, but just by living, getting dressed and going to work each morning -- he provided inspiration to me and countless others who knew him.

Melvin -- Tino as he was known to the other kids in the Plainview School when we were young -- was an upperclassman when I was still in Junior High. At that age high-school guys don't have much to do with younger kids, but Tino was a kindly fellow and he and I were friends of a sort. Tino was in Mr. George's school band -- in the drum section, and we always had a good time at practices.

One noontime, a bunch of kids were horsing around on the sidewalk, next to the block wall in front of the high school. I was on the edge of the crowd and not involved, but all of a sudden one kid, a bigger boy began to rag at Tino, for no reason that I could see. When Tino did not give the answer he wanted, he actually lifted Tino off the ground and threw him against that block wall. Tino had to be helped into the building. His Dad came to the school and took him home, and we didn't see him again -- for years.

When Tino (now Melvin) finally returned to school, it was to graduate with my class, the Class of 1946. And from that moment on he was a part of the Class of '46. He was a regular at the class reunions and always ready to help where he could.

The operations Melvin endured during his years away had fused his back and hips. He couldn't bend from the hips, which made for extremely awkward (and I'm sure painful) movements. But if it slowed him down, it surely didn't stop him. He could not sit on an ordinary chair, but instead leaned on a high stool, with his head well back, his back ramrod straight. He drove a car the same way, so that the back of the front seat had to be specially adapted. It was painful to watch him slither into his driving position.

Melvin attended an Electronic School in Omaha after high school, and learned to repair radios and TVs and small appliances. He worked for a time for Elmer Zach, whose store was next to the bakery. When Elmer got out of the TV business Melvin opened his own Paint/TV/Alliance/Gift store in the old Council Oak Grocery building, next to Bush & Roe, in downtown Plainview. He operated that store for the next 40 years.

Melvin was a dapper dresser and always wore a suit and tie to work. He was always accommodating, honest, fair, and friendly. His wife, Alfrieda (nee Olsen) worked at the store and they ran a good business. He was also a one man Chamber of Commerce. He did not complain. He was proud of Plainview, and eternally optimistic.

After my Dad closed the Plainview bakery in the '60s, Ella Myers, who had worked at the bakery for many years, went to work at Melvin's store. They got along well and when Dad and Ella married a few years later Melvin had mixed feelings. He was happy for Dad and Ella, but he hated to lose a good employee. After that he always kidded my Dad and said he never did forgive him for taking Ella away from the store.

For many years Melvin drove a vintage Chevy station wagon. When the car was ready for retirement Melvin's nephew took the vehicle to Norfolk, where his automotive body class rebuilt the car, as a sleek, baby blue beauty. And Melvin continued to drive the car until his retirement. It was always reassuring to see that car parked uptown -- it meant that Melvin was on the job, and everything was still OK with the world.

We were in town once for a Plainview celebration and Melvin invited my wife, Jean and me, and another couple to his home for dinner. Alfrieda had passed away by this time and he had asked a neighbor to help him with the preparations. It was a very nice dinner, with his best china and silver. We had a fine time and Melvin seemed so pleased, smiling from his seat above us and enjoying the conversation.

Melvin was a lifelong member of the Friends Church in Plainview, but after Alfrieda's death he became more and more involved with Gideons International -- an evangelical Christian organization dedicated to distributing copies of the Bible worldwide -- most famously in hotel and motel rooms.

One time Melvin drove (by himself) to Colorado Springs to attend a Gideons Convention. He called to say that he would like to stop to visit a bit on his way home. It was a Sunday afternoon and he still had another 300 miles to drive to Plainview, so of course we insisted that he stay the night with us. Jean was pleased because she would be able to reciprocate for the meal we had had at his house.

Ever the gentleman, he was reluctant to put us out in any way, but finally agreed, but with one stipulation. In the morning I would have to help him get into his support stockings, since he was unable to bend to put them on. I was agreeable, but inexperienced, and we had one devil of a time getting him dressed in the morning. He explained that he had a neighbor lady who came to his home each evening to help him get ready for bed and came back again in the morning to help him get dressed.

Such a simple thing -- getting dressed in the morning -- something we take for granted. But it was a major undertaking for Melvin -- every morning of the world.

During Melvin's stay at our house I got a chance to ask him something that had been on my mind for many years -- when he had been thrown against the block wall at PHS, did that have anything to do with his being crippled? He remembered the incident, but treated it lightly -- just kid stuff -- an accident. He "said" he didn't even remember the kid's name -- and he was sure his arthritic condition would have progressed even if the "accident" had not happened. It was clear that he had long since forgiven the fellow and was too busy living his life to let a heart full of bitterness get in his way.

I always liked to stop to see Melvin when we were in Plainview. Eventually when we came to town, Melvin's store was closed. His neighbors told us that he had moved into the new Plainview Assisted Living Center, attached to the Nursing Home.

Melvin was much the same as he had always been, dressed in a suit and tie, and proud as punch of his new apartment. He took us on a tour of the facility, greeting staff and residents alike with his friendly smile, while he pointed out all the neat new features of the Center.

He explained that the hassle of taking care of his house and attending to his special needs had gotten to be too much, and the nurses and staff were so able and good to him, and the food was so much better than he could do that it just made sense for him to move. He knew everyone at the new Center as well as the Nursing Home, and seemed very happy.

Melvin was present at the Friday night dinner at the Hotel at our 60th Class Reunion. He greeted everyone, and welcomed us back to Plainview, and enjoyed his role as unofficial host for the event.

The "girls" in our class made a fuss over him and insisted on getting just the right food items on his tray. He basked in the camaraderie of the event and invited everyone back for the next year's reunion.

But that was the last time we saw Melvin. He did not feel up to attending the banquet in 2007. He sent his regrets, and was sure in another year he'd be feeling better. In January 2008 we got word that he had passed away.

We'll miss him, but take solace in the knowledge that at last he rests -- pain free. He was 85.