Obituary of William George Menter

The Rev. William (Bill) George Menter, retired, passed away peacefully at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida surrounded by family on March 4, 2018. He was 84. Bill Menter was born to Irvin Menter and Vondale Menter in Pemberville, Ohio. He was married to Carol in 1957; they were divorced in 1988. He is survived by his children Deborah Rasor (Stanley), Daniel Menter (Pamela), and David Menter, all of Colorado. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 1956. Bill was ordained in the American Lutheran Church in 1960 after graduating with a Masters of Divinity from the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 1960. Bill received a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in1983. Bill served as pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Agincourt, Ontario, Canada, 1960-1965; St. Paul Lutheran Church, Imlay City, Michigan, 1965-1982; interim pastor at University Lutheran Church, East Lansing, Michigan in 1982; Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saginaw, Michigan, 1986-1995; Sunrise Lutheran Church in Port Saint John, Florida; Saint Andrew Lutheran in Port Saint Lucie, Florida; and Peace Lutheran Church in Palm Bay, Florida. Most recently he was a member at Joy Lutheran Church in Palm Bay. Bill was known for his excellent voice and performed with many church and community choirs. He traveled to Europe with one such group in the early 2000’s performing with the choir. He loved the “stage” whether it was speaking under the cross on Sundays, or playing a role in a theatre group. In addition he was a model railroad enthusiast – HO scale. Bill was a Rotary member wherever he lived. He served as president of the Imlay City chapter 1979-1980 and the Palm Bay chapter 2003-2004 and edited the newsletter for several chapters. Bill was a member of the Writing Academy serving as a president from 1985-1986. Bill was a member of the Food for the Poor speaker’s bureau from 2007- 2016 where he traveled the US speaking at churches. Food for the Poor is an international relief agency that links the church of the first world with the church of the third world. As part of Food for the Poor, Bill was sent on trips to economically-less advantaged countries, including Haiti and Honduras. There he observed people, sometimes 1500 a day, coming to a central location to receive beans and rice for their families. Most walked more than five miles carrying their bowls and bags and a card indicating how many servings they needed to feed their family. Such scenes were seared into his consciousness and made his appeal to US church members vivid and compelling. There was one story he could not tell without dropping a few tears about a young mother who lost her baby in the garbage dump while she foraged for food. On another occasion he was given the pleasure of presenting a mother keys to her new home which got them out of a cardboard and tin shack with dirt floor and no water into a clean little house with amenities we all take for granted. Bill had a lifelong passion for understanding the scriptures. He took an extended trip in the early 1970’s with one of his mentors of theology and spirituality, Pastor Bruce Schein (D.Min Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, PhD Yale, and author). They traveled the Holy Land mostly on foot through villages and the desert. He prayed by “the wall” and swam in the Dead Sea. Unlike most travel groups to the area, Pastor Schein led this group to out of the way places which his research showed were more likely to be the authentic sites of the birth, healings, etc. For many years after his return Bill showed and narrated his pictures of the area to his congregations. The trip changed his life and he eagerly shared what he had learned. As a Menter, he had mentors he respected for his lifetime. One was Dr. Schein. Another was Dr. George Mendenhall (University of Michigan biblical scholar). He craved conversations of what he called substance, especially surrounding his vocation of bringing the word of God to his congregates and friends. He frequently challenged old and conventional thinking with trusted friends and colleagues. Bill always sought new information and was a voracious reader. His home library is a floor to ceiling collection of books from theology and spirituality to cartoons and politics and travel. Bill took great pride in his work and what he was able to accomplish while wearing the “robes”. He took time getting to know as much as he could about the deceased before he delivered the funeral sermon. He sat with the family and encouraged them to talk and then listened for the heart of the person to be revealed. Even for those he didn’t personally know, he managed to bring comfort to those grieving with familiar remembrances. Few could top Bill’s sense of humor. With his quick wit and speaking and literary skills, he could instantly throw out a quip and get a laugh. In some circles, he was known for his “bad” and worn out old jokes. Family stories and funny lines survived largely because he retold them for decades. Jokes and laughter brought out one of Bill’s trademark characteristics: His loud, full-throated laugh, which will be greatly missed. Bill’s life was his work bringing Christ’s, love, compassion, empathy, self-acceptance, and joy to those he met. His greatest joy and sense of pride were found in his children. He couldn’t express clearly enough how proud he was of each of them. Though each is accomplished and financially successful, Bill was more proud of the people they had become and their life partners they added to the Menter family tree. They are his true legacy as they go forth embodying all the qualities and principles that he spent his life discovering and teaching. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Food for the Poor (Foodforthepoor.org) or Joy Lutheran Church. There will be a funeral service for Bill at Joy Lutheran Church in Palm Bay, Florida, on Monday, March 6, 2018 at 3 pm with visitation at 2 pm. He will be buried in Pemberville Ohio on March 10, 2018.