Charlotte M. Mennenga

Charlotte Mae Mennenga, age 96, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 20, 2024 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center where she received excellent care from all of the staff. She was born in Rockford on June 4, 1928 the daughter of John and Hattie (Palmer) Paul. She attended Leaf River High School graduating in 1946. She married Louis Mennenga on May 31, 1971. Charlotte was a woman with a strong faith and was an involved member of Silver Creek Reformed Church in German Valley. She had a creative soul and loved to paint. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening and baking for her family and friends. Charlotte loved to travel especially to Disney World and to the North West. She got to accomplish her lifelong dream of traveling to Ireland at the age of 90 where she got to stay in a castle. Charlotte believed in staying involved in the community and was a member of the Leaf River Museum and the Ogle County Farm Bureau. She spent the last year and a half making her home in Belvidere with her daughter where they were both blessed with extra quality time together. More than anything Charlotte loved spending time with her family and friends making them all feel important and loved. She is preceded in death by her parents, son Eugene Winche, sister, Margie Pepin, step son, Larry Mennenga and husband, Louis. She is survived and missed by her daughter, Sharon (Bill) Kaple of Belvidere; step children, Larry (Gail) Mennenga of Carlton, OR; grandchildren, Brenda (Wesley) Ganz of Poplar Grove, Elaine (Jeff) McKamey of Moline, and Billy Kaple of Colona, IL and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchidlren. A funeral service celebrating Charlotte’s well lived life will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Silver Creek Reformed Church in German Valley with Pastor Nora Johnson officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at church. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery in Freeport, IL. Memorials are established for Silver Creek Reformed Church.