Melissa Andresen

Melissa C. Andresen, 64, of Haslett died June 24, 2024 surrounded by family following a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer. Melissa was born November 21, 1959 in Uccle, Belgium, the daughter of George and Ann Beaumont Kovacs. Given her father’s positions in sales and corporate planning with Deere and Company, she lived in various locations across Europe and Canada before the family moved to Rock Island, IL in 1970. She was a graduate of Rock Island High School, Northern Illinois University, and Roosevelt University and began a professional career as paralegal, serving with firms in Chicago and Washington, DC. Later in life, she held an educational programming position with the Meridian local historical village in Okemos.

Melissa first met and began dating her husband Jeff in 9th grade. They were married May 30th, 1987 and lived in Indiana and Virginia before moving to Michigan in 1990. Melissa was a devoted wife and mother deeply committed to her family and friends. She treasured the many vacations and trips with family and friends in northern Michigan. She and Jeff also traveled extensively across Europe and the USA. She was an accomplished cook and baker and took pride in family meals and celebrations. Her pies, particularly apple, were a special treat during the holidays. She had a special fondness for dogs and their companionship, especially golden retrievers. Her many dogs over the years included several from rescue organizations suffering from prior abuse and other problems who she was able to successfully rehabilitate and offer a loving permanent home. Following in her father’s footsteps, she had a passion for gardening. Her dahlias and roses brought joy to her and her family. Melissa and her family have been active members of University Lutheran Church since their arrival in Michigan. She served on various church boards and teams over the years and most recently held a position as a website manager.

Survivors include her husband, Jeff, sons and daughter-in-law, Chris Andresen, Fenton, MI, and Nick and Maria Andresen, Chelsea, MI; mother, Ann Kovacs, Rock Island, IL; sisters and brothers-in-law, Julia and John Dragstrem, Clarendon Hills, IL, Lucia and Paul Gardner, Flower Mound, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Scott and Carla Andresen, Urbana, IL, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Julia and Tim Carlin, Rock Island, IL, and nephews William Andresen, Ryan, Ben, Drew, and Matt Dragstrem, Alec, Duncan, and Brody Gardner, and Joe, Ben, and Jacob Carlin. She was preceded in death by her father.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6 at University Lutheran Church, 1020 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823. Visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m. at the church. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes in East Lansing.

The service will be available livestream at the church’s facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/University.Lutheran.Church.ELCA?mibextid=LQQJ4d

**You may need a Facebook account in order to access the stream link above**

Melissa’s family wishes to thank her church and friends for their continued love and support during the past few years as well as staff at the Karmanos Cancer Center, McLaren Hospital 7th floor, Willows Rehabilitation Center, and Lansing Stoneleigh Hospice Center for their kind and compassionate care. Memorials may be made to University Lutheran Church https://www.ulcel.org/ , Great Lakes Golden Retriever Rescue https://greatlakesgoldens.org/donate/ , or to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation https://tnbcfoundation.org/support-us/donate. Online condolences may be expressed to Melissa's family by visiting her obituary at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-lansing-mi/melissa-andresen-11874711 .