Menning, Carl (1928-2018)

MENNING, BRINK, BROWN, HOLMES

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:23

Carl Menning
September 6, 1928 - June 29, 2018

Carl Menning, age 89, of Alta, Iowa, passed over to Heaven peacefully on Friday, June 29, 2018, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

The second of two children born to John William and Adriana Elizabeth (Jennie) (Brink) Menning, he came into this world at his parents’ farm home in Aurora County, South Dakota. In 1946, he graduated from Sioux Center High. Next, he worked at his dad’s Standard Oil Station before marrying Elizabeth (Betty) Menning on May 25, 1950, in his parents’ home.

As with most people of his generation, the Great Depression had a profound effect on the way Dad lived, saved, and spent money. Hard work and service came naturally for him. Over the years, he held many jobs. Once his regular workday ended, he would work at remodeling and adding on to their house in Storm Lake. Then, he remade an old Alta church into their home with Mom by his side every step of the way. In addition, he would, often, be helping friends with their projects.

Over the years, Dad had a lot of interests. He took time to go fishing with us when we were kids. He enjoyed making bird houses, thereby earning Mom the nickname “Betty Bird.” In addition, he made wooden toys as Christmas presents for the grandchildren. Many of those toys, still, exist and their great-grandchildren are playing with them. He enjoyed going to coffee with the guys, sometimes twice a day. He sang in a Barbershop quartet and worked on cars. Indeed, as a member of SERPACI (the Society for the Encouragement of Restoration and Preservation of Antique Cars Incorporated), he restored a 1950’s Willys-Overland Jeepster.

Dad had a quiet, but deep faith in God and God’s plan for his life (Isaiah 40:31). In the last months of his life, knowing that he was going to see his Savior sustained him. When he prayed at mealtime he used King James English. As kids we couldn’t understand why he did that, but now think that it was his prayer language, a language that he used only when talking with God. Whether studying the Bible, serving on a mission trip, or helping build a new worship center, he was there contributing.

Carl is preceded in death by Elizabeth (Betty) Menning, his wife of sixty-eight years; his parents; his sister, Lorena Brown, and his great-granddaughter, Ruth Willow Menning (stillborn daughter of Jeremy and Melissa Menning). He will be greatly missed by his four children: Paul and Jane (Ponsor), of Olathe, Kansas, Linda and Wes Holmes, of Alta, Iowa, Gregg and Diane (Appleseth), of Northfield, Minnesota; and John and Jeree (Carlson), of Fremont, Nebraska; fourteen grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Thanks Dad…

A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. at the Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be divided between the Summit Evangelical Free Church and the Oakdale Evangelical Free Church. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta is in charge of the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Alta, Iowa, 2018.

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