Henry Meenen's Obituary
Henry Meenen 92 of Fayetteville, AR passed away Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Fayetteville. He was born January 13, 1919, in a farm home near Clifton, Kansas. He was the son of Bertha and John Meenen.
He attended Kansas State University where he earned both his BS and MS degrees. While there he met his wife, Ellen and they were married in 1942. In WW II he enlisted and was a member of the Army Air Corps. Following his service he attended the University of Missouri earning his Ph.D. degree. In 1949 he and Ellen moved to Fayetteville where he joined the University of Arkansas faculty in Agriculture Economics. He was a teacher, a researcher and an administrator, asked to head the Department in 1954 until his retirement in 1985. His research efforts were centered on agricultural finance and service to the agricultural cooperatives of Arkansas. Two of his most interesting research projects included serving on President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Agricultural Marketing Commission and being appointed as Chairman of Governor Dale Bumpers Arkansas Food Price Study Commission.
He was inducted into the Kansas Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity, served as faculty Adviser of the Missouri Chapter and named Founding Father of the Arkansas Chapter. He served on the International Board of FarmHouse as Vice-Chairman and was presented with the Builder of Men award.
He was a member of numerous professional organizations, serving as President of the Southern Agricultural Economic Association and later named a Lifetime Fellow. He was a member of the Fayetteville Rotary Club, serving as President in 1971-1972.
He was a charter member of the Butterfield Trail Village Board and served as Chairman for over 10 years. In addition to assisting his wife, Ellen, in her many community services, he considered his service to this retirement Village as one of his greatest services to his community.
He was a member of the First Christian Church and served in numerous positions at the local, regional and, as Chairman of the Commission of Budget Evaluation, for the International Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen, in 2006. Survivors include his two sons, Kent Meenen and wife Janie of Siloam Springs, and Dr. Dennis Meenen and wife Martha of Rogers; seven grandchildren, Andy Meenen of Kansas City, John Meenen and wife Kristy of Bentonville, Alison Stephen Hammontree and husband Chad of Fayetteville, Michael Meenen of San Diego, California, Dr. Kevin Meenen and wife Mia of Rogers, Tyler Meenen of Fayetteville, and Dan Stephen and wife Katherine of Alpine, Utah; and six great grandchildren, Cecile Stephen, Grace Hammontree, Lauren Meenen, John Mason Meenen, Finley Hammontree, and Kaden Meenen.
A private internment will be in Rogers. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 24 at 1:00 PM at the First Christian Church in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First Christian Church in Fayetteville.
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