Approximately 260 individuals attended the funeral service of Andre Melief at the Hot Springs Resort last Tuesday, a man who has been synonymous with Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort and the hospitality industry for the last two decades.

Quinn’s hosts guests from the western states, eastern states, and overseas, Over the last 20 years, there have been many improvements to the kitchen, dining rooms, Harwood House, and new cabins were completed in December of 2000. The Paradise Hall Event Center was completed in 2015, and has been the location of weddings, training, and family celebrations.

The most recent project at Quinn’s is The River Lodge, which began construction during 2016 and is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Many of those present for the memorial were friends, family, former employees, current employees, contractors, and guests.

“Many of the staff have been at Quinn’s for decades. A few of Andre’s longest employed managers have been here over 18 years. I have been with Quinn’s over 16 (years),” Denise Moreth said. “We have many extended family members in our employees and Andre was a generous boss to those in need. We were not surprised the large turnout for his service.”

Violinist Monica Huggett was a part of the string quintet, which performed during the service. The Quinn’s management team present was; Kevin Boles, Susan Curry, Denise Moreth, and Casse Mortenson, all of whom spoke during the service.

According to the program provided at the service, Andre Melief was born to Hank and Joe Melief on February 15, 1950 in Zeist, Netherlands. The oldest of five siblings, during his childhood he excelled at school, participated at soccer and swimming and rode his bike all over the countryside, but he was always restless for something more. At the age of 18, he traveled to the U.S. for the first time as an exchange student at Wesleyan University and, immediately upon arrival, knew he had found his home.

To stay in the U.S. following his graduation, he moved to California to attend business school at Stanford University and graduated with his MBA in 1973. Upon completion of his degree, he began working for Wells Fargo Bank, where he mat his wife, Jessica Palmer, also in 1973.

In 1976, the two moved to New York City, where Andre started working for the consulting firm McKinnsey and Co. They were married in 1980 in Kenya, where Jessica is from, then lived in New York City where all three of their children were born. One-by-one, all of his siblings came for visits and made the decision to immigrate also. The Melief siblings have always remained very close.

In 1987, Andre decided that the corporate world was not his calling and began speculating in real estate in Connecticut. An accidental recommendation brought his attention to Montana, and he immediately feel in love with the wide-open spaces and rugged peaks that were such a contrast to his native Holland. He spent many happy years involved in numerous ranches in the west, discovering his love for the mountain west and a calling for small business ventures. He bought Quinn’s Hot Springs resort in 1996 and spent the ensuing 20 years rebuilding the thriving destination it is today. Throughout his life, Andre was devoted to his family. His happiest times were spent around a table with a good bottle of wine (or several) yakking with his children, siblings, and their families and friends. He delighted in presiding over his “tribe” and hosting a gathering for whatever friends or family happened to be around him.

Andre is survived by his wife and partner of 43 years, Jessica his three children. Mark-Hendrik, Erica, and Pieter, and his four grandchildren, Andrea, Lauren, Parker, and Caleigh.

Reporter Douglas Wilks can be reached at dwilks@vp-mi.com or 406-826-3402.