Casper "Cap" Menninga, 93, a longtime resident of Otoe County, NE, died June 30, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, NE. He was a WWII veteran, farmer, school bus driver, and active in his church and community. He was an inspiration to his family and all who knew him.

Cap was born March 3, 1917 in Adams, NE, the third of eight children to George and Grace (Huls) Menninga. He was baptized March 18, 1917 at Zion Lutheran, Pickrell, NE, and confirmed July 26, 1931 at Immanuel "Stateline" Lutheran Church, Wymore, NE. He attended Little John School at Bookwalter, NE, through eighth grade. He worked on the family farm until he was called to military service in WWII.

After basic training in 1942 at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, he served in the Army's 340th Engineers through December 5, 1945 and was stationed in Alaska, Canada, Australia, New Guinea, Morotai Island and Luzon. He was awarded the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal including two Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Distinguished Unit Citation.

After returning from WWII, Cap attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received a certificate in agriculture. He married Sylvia Tena Conradi on March 14, 1948 at Luther Memorial Church, Syracuse, NE. Cap farmed near Palmyra, NE for nearly 50 years before moving to Syracuse in 2000. He drove a school bus for Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Public Schools for 20 years. He was a life member of both VFW Post 5547 and American Legion Post 100 serving as chaplain for many years. As a WWII veteran, he received an honorary high school diploma in 2000, was a participant in the Heartland Honor Flight to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC in 2008, and received the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute in 2009.

Cap was an active member of Luther Memorial Church in Syracuse since 1948 where he served on the church council and various committees. In 1991, he was named Bergemeister at the Syracuse Germanfest. He especially enjoyed helping at Vacation Bible School, the Otoe County Fair, the American Legion Baseball program, and the Little Angels Daycare Center in Syracuse. He also volunteered at the Newington Forest Elementary School in Springfield, VA.

He is survived by two daughters, Jane Schuchardt and husband Richard of Fairfax Station, VA, and Ann Selzer and husband Robert of Lincoln, NE. Grandchildren are Ryan Schuchardt of Arlington, VA, Philip Schuchardt of Blacksburg, VA, Jenna Farquhar and husband 1Lt. Cale Farquhar of Fort Leonard Wood, MO, Travis Selzer and wife Christina of Mesa, AZ, and Eric Selzer and wife Jamie of Fountain Hills, AZ. He has four great-grandchildren Daniel, Broderick, and Ayden Selzer, and Reese Boies. He also is survived by his brother Elmer Menninga of Summerfield, KS, his sister Freida Delp of Morrisonville, NY and his sister-in-law Josephine Freeman of Nebraska City, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four sisters – Henrietta Weirs, Marie Clark, Irene Roberts and Emma Dewey, and one brother Albert Menninga.

Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse, 402-269-2441, www.fusselmanallenharvey.com is in charge of arrangements. Services celebrating Cap's life are scheduled for 10:30 am Friday, July 9, 2010 at Luther Memorial Church, 1162 Mohawk, Syracuse, with Pastor Paul Coen officiating. Military honors and interment will follow at Park Hill Cemetary, Syracuse. Visitation will be 9 am – 9 pm Thursday, July 8 at the Funeral Home, Syracuse. Memorials may be designated for Veterans Field to support the American Legion Baseball Program in care of the Syracuse Community Foundation, Box 41, Syracuse, NE 68446 or Luther Memorial Church, PO Box 9, Syracuse, NE 68446