Melvin Nello Sudweeks

Melvin (Mel) Nello Sudweeks, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday April 22, 2026. 

Mel was born in Nephi, UT, on February 6, 1942, to Nello and Alice Sudweeks. Mel and his family are faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Mel married Neeltje (Lee) Straatman on March 17, 1962, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 21, 1989. He enjoyed going to the temple and loved working there with Lee for several years. 

Mel and Lee had 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. 

Mel graduated from high school, then attended and graduated from Salt Lake Electronic School returning for a post graduate course. He was hired by an Aeronautics firm in Fullerton, California, where he worked for a period of time, then was transferred to their Salt Lake office. He briefly worked at Kennecott Copper Mine and Litton Industries before hiring on at Hill Air Force Base, where he spent the majority of his career. The last 10 years before he retired, he was an Equipment Specialist, a position that took him all around the world. 

He loved fast vehicles of every kind including boats, motorcycles and Corvettes. He was part of the Burkland Racing Crew when Tom Burkland set the land speed record out at the Salt Flats in his Streamliner. This car is now in the Museum of American Speed. 

He enjoyed boating and water skiing with his family and went to Lake Powell often. He loved shooting his guns, both recreationally and competitively, building and flying Remote Controlled model aircraft, and riding his bicycles. (He used to ride them to work at HAFB and back home again). 

Special thanks go out to Tiki, CiCi, and the rest of Atlas Hospice for their care and consideration for our father in the final days of his life.

 There will be a viewing Tuesday night, April 28, 2026, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. He will be interred at the Bountiful City Cemetery. All other services are private, per the family's request.