William 'Bill' Louis Menne

William Louis Menne was born to German immigrants, Charles and Rose (Hebenstreit) Menne, on a farm outside of Norwood, Missouri on August 6, 1920 and departed this life on December 10, 2014. He was 94 years, 4 months, and 4 days of age.

William spent his entire life on his farm except for the time he spent serving his country from 1942 to 1945, in the Army Air Force during WWII. He flew combat operations during the Battle of the Bulge campaigns in Rhineland, Central Europe, Ardennes, Northern France, Normandy, Southern France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. Using C-47s, he towed gliders, transported paratroopers, supplies, parapacks, POWs and wounded-in-action.

He was stationed in England and his tour of duty also took him to Scotland, Ireland, Africa, Aleutian Islands, South America, and Puerto Rico. For his outstanding service, he was awarded six Bronze Stars, one Silver Star, Sharp Shooter Medal, Good Conduct Medal, three Overseas Bars and the Air Medal for intensive aerial activity as combat crew member of 53rd Troop Carrier Wing. The operations were conducted in the face of intense hostile ground fire and in weather which required the utmost professional skill and unswerving devotion to duty.

After his return, he married Beulah Graham in March of 1946 and bought a farm adjacent to his birth place in Norwood, Missouri. There he spent the rest of his life farming, logging and road construction. William enjoyed his family, fishing, hunting and gardening as long as his health permitted.

William was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mountain Grove, Missouri, which he helped build in the 1950s.

Besides his parents, William was preceded in death by his wife: Beulah (Graham) Menne; one brother: Carl Menne; three sisters: Lena Menne, Anna Menne, and Emma Menne; one son: Willliam Lewis Menne; and one granddaughter: Terri Menne.

He is survived by seven daughters: June Lake and her husband, Harold, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Jean Menne of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Jane Fagan of Atlanta, Georgia, Evelyn Ritter of Daytona Beach, Florida, Mary Menne of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Ruby Woodward and her husband, Dale, of Platte City, Missouri, and Jo Campbell and her husband, Mike, of Norwood, Missouri; nine grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Three Rivers Hospice for the kindness and compassion in our time of need, Sherri Woodward for her patience and care, and many friends and neighbors.


Visitation: Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home.

Funeral Service: Monday, December 15, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mountain Grove.

Burial: Thomas Cemetery, Norwood, Missouri.

Memorial Contributions: Three Rivers Hospice or Deacon Joe Charities in c/o the funeral home.