On October 16, 2023, Melinda Thomas left this earth, to spend all of eternity with her Lord & Saviour.

Melinda was born to James (Jim) and Ruth Kroneman in Madison, Wisconsin on May 6, 1976, and graduated from Madison East High School in 1995.

After graduation from high school, Melinda attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where she initially enrolled in the music education program. She had tremendous musical talent, and aside from her primary instrument of Oboe, she also played the English horn, alto saxophone, piano, and 3 different varieties of recorder. At UW-Whitewater, she performed in Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Concert Band. Melinda was also a dedicated member of the UW-Whitewater Color Guard, where, early on, she was given the nickname "Index," because she could recall details on cue, like the entire season's football (and color guard performance) schedule. She loved color guard; it was a place of belonging for her that formed many friendships. In 2017, she was thrilled to rejoin several of her color guard sisters for a homecoming reunion performance at Perkins Stadium.

Following a transfer to Marian University and completion of her Bachelor's degree, Melinda worked in different positions in banking, office/reception, and retail, but took five years away from work to devote herself to the care of her son, Dylan, when he was born. She loved being a Mom and adored her son. Some of the happiest photos of Melinda—and the happiest moments of her life, were the ones she shared with him, from the time he was very little when she would read to him, or take him to the park to play, or when she was cheering him on in basketball, football, or track. She swelled with pride and her face beamed when she spoke about him to others. When Dylan grew older, though, she wasn't afraid to throw out a "mom threat" with a wide-eyed glare in his direction, every now and then, to show her disapproval for an albeit unrelated behavior and the power she wielded: "If you do that , you're going to be doing your own laundry," or " If you keep saying that , you're going to be packing your own lunch from now on." She meant it, too.

Whenever people asked Melinda how she was doing, she would often answer briefly about herself but frequently would turn the conversation to her family. It was her constant care for others over self that will stand eternally as one of her most enduring qualities, which was loved by so many of her family and closest friends and counted on by so many others. Melinda was the sweetest, most gentle soul—and in every way, genuine and unpretentious. It wasn't a put-on, or an act; it was who she was . From that flowed an abiding love and support for her husband, which was profoundly mutual in a marriage buoyed by many special moments and memories in their life together, in 22 years of marriage and the six years before they exchanged vows.

Melinda leaves behind her family, who will miss her deeply: husband, Nate, and their son, Dylan, as well as her mom, Ruth, and brother, Brian (Kelly) Kroneman, and many more in her extended family. She was preceded in death by her father, Jim, and grandparents Francis & Lois Fleming, and Clarence & Thelma Kroneman.

Visitation will be at Bridge of Faith Baptist Church in Omro, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, October 24, from 1-2pm with Funeral Service, led by Pastor Daryl Marco, to immediately follow at 2pm.

Romans 10:9-10