Died: 15 April 2015
Marshall Leroy Mehlos, 75 years, of Chula Vista, California, passed into eternal rest Wednesday 15 April 2015 after courageously fighting an ongoing medical war for several years.
He was born on 7 January 1940 in Sheboygan Falls, WI, the son of the late Leroy and Adeline Mehlos. He attended Concordia Lutheran Seminary briefly before getting the call to Federal Law Enforcement. He EOD’d on 26 June 1961 and actually worked the line (Calif./Mex.) for several months before attending the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Port Isabel, TX.
Marshall met and married Hannelore the same year and ultimately was assigned to Chula Vista where he worked the entire span of his extraordinary 34 year career.
Marshall undoubtedly loved the Patrol and excelled quickly to Senior and truly enjoyed the camaraderie of the troops. The Rat Pack (Patrol) and other task force operations kept his job exciting and interesting. That all accelerated when Marshall began working in Intel. His ability to create contacts in the U.S. and especially in Mexico are legendary, and the realized accomplishments and accolades from those countries’ governments are mostly unpublished and unknown.
He was highly respected while navigating in diverse circles of people with ease and earned the name, “Gringo who walked among us,” by some of his Mexican Intel colleagues. His mastery of the Spanish language was well known and he enjoyed participating in the Spanish Boards for new P.I.’s. He retired as an Assistant Chief Patrol Agent in 1995. The guidance and mentorship he shared with so many Patrol Agents over the years was just part of the graciousness and sternness that Marshall had for those he cared for. As a Supervisor and as a Father to his three sons, he was more than a hero and intellectual giant. The wisdom of a King, the wit of a Jester, and the heart of a Lion was what people experienced with Marshall. The bravery he showed through all the dozens of battles in the past years makes him an epic Warrior, are fully deserving of the well-known reputation he has. He will be sorely missed by many, but never forgotten.
Marshall was preceded in death by his parents, Son: Michael; Brother: Micky; Sister: Carol Kober, and brother-in-law: David Kober.
He is survived by his sister: Joan (Ron) Lade, and their three children: Clint (and his family), Marty, and Lora Anne; Two sons: Daniel (Gia) and Pete; Three grandchildren: Nicolle, Raechel and Cody; Daughter-in-law: Susan and her husband Gary; Cousin: Mary Jane Diels and her family; and former wife: Lore, as well as other family in Germany and Wisconsin. He will be missed by many friends all through California, the United States and Mexico.
Following Marshall’s wishes, a small private memorial service will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers/cards, please make a donation in Marshall’s name to the Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol Officers (FORBPO) P.O. Box 2654, Alpine, CA. 91903.
The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services served the family.
Marshall is listed with his parents, children and grandchildren on page 160 on the Fourth Edition of Seidemann Family Tree Book.