Samuel "Sam" Paul Menne

Samuel “Sam” Paul Menne, 21, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away July 13th in a motorcycle accident when a car unexpectedly pulled in front of him. 

Sam was born on May 10, 2003 in Mankato, Minnesota to Paul and Mary Menne. He was the oldest of 10, a natural leader and was always helping others. When God called his family to Colorado, his sister was born. He became a big brother for the first time and immediately embraced the role. He also put on his first pair of hockey skates in the mountains near Pike’s Peak, beginning his love of hockey which would continue through high school. Upon returning to Minnesota, he was blessed with his first little brother and he started hockey in full force. He eventually transitioned to goalie which suited his personality of being a rock solid protector for his family, friends and country. He was so excited to start school, meet friends and be independent. Sam loved his family, but friends were also very important to him. He was a people pleaser and loved to make people smile. He had such an inquisitive mind taking things apart and figuring out how they worked. His first science fair project was an electric generator, which would also become a meaningful part of his life in Sioux Falls. 

Sam genuinely enjoyed school and loved helping out. In his younger years he was a school patrol, enjoyed being a buddy reader and was a great big brother helping with his younger siblings at school. As he got older he volunteered to serve breakfast at school and joined Henderson’s Sauerkraut Krew. He was also known to be found cleaning up the local parks, shoveling neighbors’ driveways or walking with his siblings around town. He loved to be outside and was thrilled to attend a school trip to the Minnesota Boundary Waters. The love of the outdoors and fishing never left him. He was an active athlete competing in high school hockey, track, and cross country. There wasn’t a board he couldn’t ride; wakeboard, snowboard, longboard, surfboard, skimboard, and kneeboard. Although he broke a few bones he was a natural at learning new tricks. Fearlessly he attempted jumps, road waves and recorded many hours on his go-pro. ­­­

Sam enjoyed working with his hands. He loved shop class, especially welding and wood working. He would later put those skills to use during his deployment. He was always working on his trucks. He was a hard worker whether it was milking cows on a dairy farm, in restaurants at Dairy Queen or Chick-fil-A, automotive work at TMS Automotive and Manlys, or as a field supervisor for installing fiber lines. His two favorite jobs were the US Army and Harvard Integrations in Sioux Falls. 

When Sam wasn’t working he enjoyed time on the water both in his grandpa’s fishing boat and on his family’s boat enjoying water sports. He taught his siblings to water ski, wakeboard and kneeboard. He was the crazy kid you’d see slalom skiing with an American flag in hand. He also enjoyed gaming with family and friends. He was a very passionate person and could be heard at any hour talking loudly with his gaming crew. He also loved playing Minecraft with his siblings and loved teaching his youngest sisters how to game. 

Sam joined the US Army Reserves during his junior year and arrived at Fort Jackson, SC for basic training just 27 days removed from turning 17, making him one of the youngest Americans to complete basic training in modern times. After graduating basic training he returned home for his senior year and graduated from Le Sueur-Henderson High School. Following that he went to his specialized Army schooling to be a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic at the US Army Ordnance Corps & School at Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia. After that, he joined his friends in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and attended Southeast Technical College to earn an AAS in Diesel Technology. 

Before completing his degree, the Nation called upon Sam and his Army Reserve unit, the 323 Chemical Company to deploy to Kuwait for a year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield). He returned home safely this spring. His military awards include the Army Accommodation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Medal with M Device.

Following his deployment and before classes were to resume this fall, Sam was working at Harvard Integration, helping assemble giant diesel generators for some of the world’s largest companies.

Waiting in Heaven for Sam was his Uncle Nate and many other loved ones. 

Sam is now lovingly waiting in Heaven for his Mom, Dad, Lauren, Matthew, William, Elijah, Peter, Isaac, Josephine, Hazel, Charlotte, his dog Teddy, and many of his family and friends. 

Sam was never one for flowers and was always helping people. Therefore the family asks that In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dollars for Scholars-Samuel Menne Scholarship Fund, PO Box 42, Le Sueur, MN 56058. This will provide help to other Le Sueur-Henderson students who desire to attend a 2 year tech school program. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 4:00-7:00 at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003. His Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, July 20, 11:00 at Crossview Covenant Church, 2000 W Howard Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003. Sergeant Samuel Menne will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on July 24 at 12:30. 

This We’ll Defend. Full Send. 

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