Louis Ernest MENNENGA

MENNENGA, GOEMAN, SHARP, HERKE, WHITE, HERRMAN, SELLERS, KORST, BOELMAN, CELLERS, LOATS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 14:04:44

November 26, 1915 --- February 13, 2014

BELMOND, IA -- Louis E. Mennenga, age 98, of Belmond, died, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at his home in Belmond. Funeral services will be Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at 1 p.m., at the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational, 116 West Main St., Belmond. The Rev. Donna Buckman will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continues one hour prior to the services at church Monday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Louis name may wish to consider the Belmond United Church of Christ Congregational, the family or to their own choice.

Louis Ernest Mennenga, the son of Folrich and Johanna "Jana" (Goeman) Mennenga, was born in Belmond on Nov. 26, 1915. In his early years he attended rural school at Pleasant Township District #5 country school. He later attended and graduated from Belmond High School with the class of 1933.

Louis was united in marriage to Alma Sharp. The couple's union was blessed with three children including a son, Dwight, and two daughters, Lorinda and Sondra. Louis and Alma farmed and raised their family for a time in rural Belmond.

Louis eventually became employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. He was a dedicated and faithful mailman for 22 years before his retirement in the early 1980s, when he retired to care for Alma as her health failed prior to her death. Louis was later married to Frances (Herke) White, on March 14, 1986, at the United Church of Christ in Belmond, where the couple had met one another during their time of widowhood.

Following their marriage the couple enjoyed over 27 years together. The two shared many years of traveling and times with each others' family. They had been on various trips to destinations throughout the eastern U.S., Maine, Washington, D.C., California and Alaska.

Louis was a faithful and devoted member of his church, where he had been active and served in various roles since 1965. He had shared his vocal talents in the church choir for many years. His warm and friendly smile, the twinkle in his eyes, and firm and welcoming handshake most certainly brought a warm feeling to the hearts and minds of those who crossed in his life journey. He was a man who was truly full of life and a kid at heart who never acted his age. Whether he was out and about delivering Meals on Wheels to the community and to many patrons who were often much younger than he, or if one saw him on the local softball diamond playing softball or coaching one of the local 4-H youth teams.

Louis was always ready for the camaraderie and friendly, but fierce competition around the cribbage board with his buddies and family. He also cherished times with the grandkids playing Rummikub, Chicken Tracks and various other games. He was an excellent pool and ping-pong player and spent countless hours around the tables enjoying times with his family and friends. He also looked forward to relaxing nightly in front of the T.V. watching his favorite game show, Wheel of Fortune, most of the time figuring out the puzzles before the competitors. He looked forward to afternoons on the golf links at various courses around the North Iowa area. Louis loved anything that exercised his mind and his body.

Most people in the Belmond area will remember seeing an older gentleman, well into his 90s, tooling about the countryside on his bicycle, toting bags full of cans that he had picked up along the road sides along his journeys. Louis was an avid sports fan and was very loyal to his St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He had a soft spot for animals and was especially fond of cardinals and cats. He had a sweet tooth and the family remembers many occasions that would include homemade ice cream.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Louis Mennenga will remember him as a man who loved life, people, and all of mankind. His gentle footsteps and many other wonderful traits will carry on in the hearts and minds of his family and friends. His life will be remembered and cherished by his wife, Frances Mennenga, Belmond, son, Dwight (Leslie) Mennenga, Fridley, Minn., daughters, Lorinda (John) Herrman, Taylor Lake Village, Texas; Sondra (Glen) Sellers, Lithia Springs, Ga.; grandchildren: Leslie Mennenga, Stacey Korst, Ryan Mennenga, Christopher Herrman; sister Janet Boelman, Belmond; grandchildren Wayne, Shelby and Jonathan Cellers. great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Alma, and sisters, Lena Mennenga, and Viola Loats, and brother, Arnold Mennenga; grandson, John Herrman. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.

February 16, 2014
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa