Milvern 'Mel' Noffke

Milvern ‘Mel’ Noffke, 93, of Hampton, passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at his home. 
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 16 at Zion Lutheran Church, east of Hampton. Rev. Tim Wells will officiate.   Interment will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora.   Memorials are requested to Central Nebraska Lutheran School (Grand Island) and Orphan Grain Train. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.
Milvern Henry Noffke was born June 11, 1932, in Grand Island, to Henry and Meta (Quandt) Noffke. He attended St. John’s Lutheran Grade School and Grand Island Senior High, graduating in May 1950. 
After high school, Mel farmed with his father and worked at the Cornhusker Army Ordnance plant, making military bombs. In 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army basic training in El Paso, TX. After basic training, he attended microwave radio school at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. He then served overseas in Taiwan with the U.S. Army Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). 
Mel returned to the U.S. in the fall of 1956 and participated in providing communications to ground zero at the atomic bomb tests in Nevada. 
In January of 1958, Mel enrolled at the University of Nebraska, majoring in agronomy. After graduation, he was employed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, with locations in Spalding, North Platte, and Holdrege, where he served as District Conservationist. In 1973, he took a position managing an association of five Underground Water Conservation Districts in Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton, Seward, and York Counties. 
On December 27, 1961, just before graduating from the University of Nebraska, he married Betty Ann Cowell. 
In 1978, McCrometer Corp. of Hemet, California, decided to install a flow meter manufacturing plant in Aurora, Nebraska, and asked Mel to manage the assembly plant and conduct sales activities in states where farm irrigation was increasing and groundwater depletion was a concern. 
In 1986, he was offered the opportunity to buy out the Aurora operation and partner with the McCrometer Corporation. He was given the authority to assemble, sell, and service McCrometer meter products. The operation prospered and in 2008 McCrometer offered to buy back the Aurora meter operation. 
Over the years, Mel was involved with many service activities and organizations, especially those related to groundwater use. He was a director on the Nebraska Water Resources Association, Groundwater Management Districts Association, Four States Irrigation Council, and numerous local and church organizations. 
In 1996, Mel was invited to join a “People to People” mission to South Africa focused on water management. On June 11, 1996, he celebrated his 64th birthday with an ostrich steak overlooking Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for many years.
Over the years, Mel and Betty traveled to many foreign countries, including South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and many others. Betty traveled with Mel to South Africa, and she remarked, “When I was in grade school, I never dreamed I would enjoy wine and cheese at the Cape of Good Hope.” 
After several years of world travel, Mel and Betty chose to build a lake house in Central City, where the family gathers and enjoys time together. 
Mel is survived by his wife, Betty, who was married to him for nearly 64 years; son, Kevin (Sharon) Noffke of Ashland; daughters Shari (Steve) Driewer of Marquette, and Kristin (Brian) Herrera of Elkhorn; six grandchildren, Amanda (River) Kile, Samantha (Michael) Doherty, Tera (Jim) Holbert, Jacob (Norma) Noffke, Ella Herrera and Cassius Herrera; two great-grandchildren, Faith Ramos-Rodriguez, and Matthew Noffke-Rodriguez, and another one on the way.