Jerry Melchoir: 1932-2014, Home builder had insurance office earlier

8/28/2014

Jerry R. Melchior, who built upscale custom homes in Lucas and Wood counties, died Tuesday in his Perrysburg home. He was 81.

The chief executive of Melchior Building Co. had congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Laurie Melchior Huskisson, the president.

“After my mom died 14 months ago, his heart never really rebounded from that,” his daughter said.

He ran an insurance agency when, about 25 years ago, he ventured into home building.

“He had a lot of tenacity. He had a lot of drive,” his daughter said. His first house as a builder was in Sylvania Township.

“Jerry always paid attention to his business,” said Tom Schlachter, a developer and a friend since he had his law office and Mr. Melchior had his insurance office in the Spitzer Building downtown.

“He was a magnet for the knowledge people would give him,” Mr. Schlachter said. “He asked the right questions and did the right things and he worked hard. He was smart enough to figure it all out.”

From construction to eye-catching extras such as woodwork, Mr. Melchior “demanded that things be done the right way,” his daughter said.

“He had that salesman‘‍s ability,” said his son, Mark, a supervisor for the firm. “But he paid attention to detail. He had contractors and subs who respected him and did a good job for him. It was a team effort.”

He was born Nov. 23, 1932, to Edna and Fritz Melchior and grew up in South Toledo. He was a toddler when his father died, and to help the family, he had several jobs -- pin setter; paperboy -- while a student at Libbey High School. He was a 1950 graduate.

He worked at the Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. and was stationed in Germany while in the Army. He attended the University of Toledo.

He and Genevieve “Jean” Romp married on Sept. 10, 1955. Mrs. Melchior died June 29, 2013.

Surviving are his son, Mark Melchior; daughter, Laurie Melchior Huskisson, and two grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Zoar Lutheran Church, Perrysburg, where the family will greet guests after 10 a.m. Arrangements are by the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.