Norman O. Munsterman

Norman O. Munsterman, age 88, of Stover, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at Wilshire at Lakewood, Lee's Summit, Missouri.
Norman was born on February 1, 1922, in the Pyrmont area of Stover to Ernst A. and Caroline Nolte Munsterman, the youngest of nine children. He was baptized February 19, 1922, at Trinity Lutheran Church-Pyrmont by Rev. D. Dietz and confirmed at the same church on September 5, 1937 by Rev. E.O. Baack. His confirmation verse was John 15:5, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me, ye can do nothing."
He was a 1939 graduate of Stover High School, which was the class the penned the school song, "Hail Stover High School."
He worked on the family farm north of Stover and later enlisted in the Army. He served 11 months in Italy as a member of Company B, 351st Infantry Regiment and participated in the Trieste United States Troops (TRUST) which created the Free Territory of Trieste.
On December 27, 1952, he married Deloris Alpers at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Stover, where he continued his membership until his passing. Following their marriage, Norman worked at Bendix at the Bannister Complex in Kansas City, Mid America Dairymen and the Stover Hatchery. Norman also served on the Board of Education at St. Pauls Lutheran School and the church council.
Norman loved doing yard work, mowing his lawn, harvesting walnuts and planting his garden along side his wife, Deloris. Together they spent many hours tending their garden and sharing the fruits and vegetables with friends and neighbors. Norman, an avid history buff, also loved playing cards, eating chocolate candy and watching MIZZOU basketball. His favorite saying was "Never say goodbye, say so long, ‘til we meet again." Norman always put his wife and daughters first. A man of humble means, he always managed to provide for his family and plan memorable vacations. He instilled in his family the importance of honesty, patriotism, hard work, faith and prayer.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Deloris of the home; daughters, Jane Lawrence and husband Dennis, Kansas City, Mo., and Karen Lapine and husband David, Olathe, Kans., three grandsons, Christopher Lapine (Jenny), Kansas City, Mo., John Lapine (Katrina), Lee's Summit and Mark Lapine (Kim Russell), Shawnee, Kans., three great granddaughters, Shelby, Ellis and Izzy Lapine, one brother, Amos Munsterman, Independence, Mo., and several nieces, nephews, as well as many beloved friends.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Ernst and Caroline, three brothers, Walter, Hugo and Herbert Munsterman, four sisters, Lorena Fricke, Lucie Thurman, Josephine Knisley and Olga Munsterman and his infant son.
Christian burial will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, November 21, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Stover with Rev. Cecil Murdock officiating. Friends will be received from 1:00 P.M. until service time on Sunday at the church. Interment, with military honors, will be in St. Pauls Lutheran Cemetery with his grandsons, Chris, John and Mark Lapine, nephews, Brad Hutchison and Don Munsterman and Donald Marriott serving as casket bearers. Honorary bearers will be Lorna Hutchison, Robert and Evelyn Alpers, Heinz Schupp and Alfred and Vivian Hicken. Memorial contributions are suggested to the St. Pauls Lutheran Church or School.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Wilshire at Lakewood as well as the caring staff at Crossroads Hospice. Norman was much loved and will be greatly missed.