Carl Menning

Carl Menning, age 89, of Alta, Iowa passed over to Heaven peacefully on Friday, June 29, 2018 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Alta. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be divided between Summit Evangelical Free Church and Oakdale Evangelical Free Church. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta is in charge of the arrangements. He was born second of two children to John William Menning and Adriana Elizabeth (Jennie) (Brink) Menning, September 6, 1928, in his parent’s farm home in Aurora County, SD. Carl graduated from Sioux Center High in 1946. Upon graduation he worked at his dad’s Standard Oil Station, before marrying Elizabeth (Betty) Menning on May 25, 1950 in his parent’s home. Carl is preceded in death by Elizabeth (Betty) Menning, his wife of 68 years, his father and mother, 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, KS; Linda and Wes Holmes of Alta, IA; Gregg and Diane (Appleseth) of Northfield, MN; John and Jeree (Carlson) of Fremont, NE; fourteen grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren. Like most people of his generation, growing up during the Great Depression had a profound effect on the way he lived, saved, and spent money. Hard work and service came naturally for dad. He held many jobs over the years. When his regular workday was over he could be found working at remodeling and adding on to their house in Storm Lake, and then remaking an old Alta church into their home with mom by his side every step of the way. He was also often helping someone else with their projects. Dad had a lot of interests over the years. He took time to go fishing with us when we were kids. He enjoyed making bird houses (earning mom the nickname “Betty Bird”) and making wooden toys for Christmas presents for the grandchildren. Many of those toys are still around and are being played with by their great-grandchildren. He enjoyed going to coffee with the guys, sometimes twice a day. He sang in a Barbershop quartet, and worked on cars, restoring a 1950 Willys-Overland Jeepster as a member of SERPACI (Society for the Encouragement of Restoration and Preservation of Antique Cars Incorporated). 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 it was a Bible study, mission trip, or helping build a new worship center, he was there. Thanks Dad…

Carl Menning

September 6, 1928 - June 29, 2018