Alvin Menninga

Stoughton - Alvin Menninga, age 90, passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023 at Skaalen Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born on the family farm in Marion County, Iowa on October 11, 1932, the son of Gysbert and Ethel Menninga in Pella, Iowa and graduated from Pella Christian High School.  He completed his education with a bachelor of arts at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and a master's degree from UW-Platteville.

Alvin was a professor of English at UW-Platteville for 32 years until his retirement in 1998.  Alvin married Lois Swart in 1952 and they later divorced. In 1984 he married Leanne Gunderson Hart. Alvin and Leanne met when both were singing in the Platteville Chorale. When rehearsals for the Chorale moved to the new fine arts building, the baritones sat behind the sopranos.  At one rehearsal the director, Gerald Darrow, asked the group to introduce themselves to someone they didn't know.  Leanne turned around and introduced herself to Alvin. He took her outstretched hand and kissed it.  A coffee date followed that rehearsal. Together they enjoyed many years of traveling and knitting, often attending knitting conventions and visiting National Parks. Before moving to Stoughton they enjoyed living across from the big "M" outside of Platteville where family, especially grandchildren, had fun climbing the steps to the top of the Mound.

Alvin is survived by his wife, Leanne; 10 children, Grace Jones, Ethel (Doug) Cox, Ruth Menninga, Patti (Tom) Filipiak, Anne (Don) Lawinger Janet Fritsch, Alvin (Kristi) Menninga, Becky (Leif) Mogensen, Leslie, (Alan) Gardner, and Karen (James) Underwood; 32 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; siblings, Clarence (Irene), Gysbert (Sylvia), Larry (Mary Jo), and Phyllis (Ray) Klapwyk; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Lois Menninga; brothers, Setrith (Jean), Bernie (Grace), and Arlan (Joann); sisters, Arlene (Infant), Kathryn (Nick) Braafhart, and Elizabeth (Gerald) Van Dusseldorp; Son-In-Law, Paul Jones; and granddaughter, Rachel Bakken.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday , January 31, 2023 at Christ Lutheran Church, 700 County Road B, Stoughton, with Rev. Paula Geister-Jones officiating, with visitation from 9:30 until the time of services at the church. The memorial service will be livestreamed on the church facebook page: www.facebook.com/ChristLutheranChurchStoughton . Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon, immediately following the service, at the church.

Memorials may be made to Skaalen Retirement Services, 400 North Morris Street, Stoughton, WI 53589, or Christ Lutheran Church, 700 County Rd B, Stoughton, WI 53589.

Please share your memories of Alvin by posting on his Tribute Wall.

Cress Funeral Services

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244