Earl Kenneth Moentmann, 94, of Norborne, died Thursday, October 11, 2018, at his daughter's home in Sedalia.

Earl was born on July 3, 1924, in Norborne, to Edwin and Hedwig (Beckemeier) Moentmann.  He was united in marriage to Virginia Lee (Ginny) Mueller on June 17, 1956.  She preceded him in death on June 5, 1990.

Survivors include: three children: Sharon Elaine (Don) Hutcheson of Sedalia, Melanie Ruth Moentmann of Independence, and Paul Eric (Sandra) Moentmann of Lancaster, OH; one sister: Erna Marie Reinsel of Des Peres; 8 grandchildren: Leah (Elijah) Coleman, Nan Hutcheson, Nathanael Hutcheson, Jennifer Hutcheson, Samantha Hutcheson, Daniel Moentmann, Michael Moentmann, and Emily (Will) Huxtable; two great-grandchildren: Liliauna Coleman and Eliakim Coleman; one niece Jean (Geoff) Brauer; and three nephews: John Reinsel, Tom Reinsel, Frank (Denise) Reinsel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and daughter Ann Jenine Steffens-Wessel.

Earl was reared and educated in Norborne.  He graduated from St. Paul High School, in Concordia, in 1941.  He then attended Business College in St. Louis.  Earl did clerical work for a year with the Wabash Railroad in St. Louis.  He was transferred to the Ann Arbor Railroad in Toledo, OH, for five years.  He was most known for owning and operating the Moentmann Brothers Company with his family in Norborne, from 1946 to 1987.  Earl was active in the Lutheran Walther League and in the Lutheran Laymen's League, having held a variety of offices in both for many years.  He was a charter member of the Norborne Lion's Club and was an active member from 1955 to 2018.  Earl served on the board of the St. Paul College Association for a number of years.  He was a member of the Board of Education of the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for 9 years and on the Board of Missions for 3 years.  Earl was also, earlier, city clerk of Norborne for several years.  Earl served as the secretary-treasurer of the Norborne Fairhaven Cemetery Association for 50 years.  Earl was a well-known and active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Norborne.  He was honored by the community as Soybean King in 2018 for the Soybean Festival, in Norborne.

Earl enjoyed traveling, having taken his first train ride from Norborne to St. Louis, with Grandma Beckemeier, when he was just 2 days old; then to Colorado with his parents when he was 2 years old.  He enjoyed making frequent trips to St. Louis to visit relatives.  He and Ginny took many summer camping trips with their 4 children, until college interfered.  Later, it was his great joy to travel to Germany, several times with his immediate and extended family, where he was able to visit the homes of his ancestors and to become acquainted with some of their descendants.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairhaven Cemetery, or to the Donor's Choice  They can be dropped off or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street - P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, October 15, 2018, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Norborne.  Visitation will be held on Sunday evening, October, 14, 2018 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Thurman Funeral Home in Norborne.  Interment will be in Fairhaven Cemetery at Norborne.  Please share your memories of Earl with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .