Francis W. Mennenga

Rev. Francis William Mennenga passed away Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 6, at Peace Lutheran Church, Hewitt, Texas. Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Monday, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m., Sunday, November 5, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Pastor Mennenga was born on a farm near Huntley, Nebraska, April 17, 1930. He received his elementary and secondary education in Wilcox, Nebraska, and attended Nebraska State Teacher College in Kearney. Prior to his seminary training at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, he was an elementary teacher. He was inducted into the US Army in 1952, and served with the Seventh Army G-2 (Intelligence), Stuttgart, Germany, from 1953-1954. He then taught one more year before entering his ministerial training in the fall of 1955. He vicared at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rome, New York, 1958-1959. Following his graduation in May 1960, he was ordained and installed, July 10, as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas. After 12 ½ years, he accepted the call as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hartley, Iowa, in which capacity he served for 6 ½ years (1973-1979), until accepting the pastorate at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lubbock, Texas, December 1979 . During his 13 ½ year pastorate in Lubbock, he pursued graduate work receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University, 1983, and his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in February 1985. He served as Circuit Counselor in Iowa District West approximately a year, and 14 years in the Texas District. He also served as advisor in Lutheran Laymen's League and Lutheran Women's Missionary League, and as Coordinator of Continuing Education in Iowa District West. Mennenga was chaplain from 1989 to 1992 for the Headquarters Fifth Military Police Group of the Texas State Guard, based in Lubbock. Pastor Mennenga took a rural call to serve at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aleman, Hamilton County, Texas, in 1993 as a semi-retirement assignment; but he was also called to a full-time ministry to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Whitney, Texas, in 1996. He retired again from the Whitney congregation in November 2003 and moved to 120 Briar Ridge Drive, Hewitt, (Waco suburb) where he and his wife Martha reside today. Pastor Mennenga married Martha Tabor Shumway of Dallas December 16, 1960, and became the father of her 12 ½ year old son, Michael David Shumway. A son, Nathan Andrew Mennenga, was born May 26, 1963, in Dallas, and lives in Waco, Texas. Michael lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, with his wife Gricel, until his passing in January 2014. He is preceded in death by his parents; and his son, Michael. He is survived by his wife, Martha; son, Nathan; and three grandchildren. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.