2023 05/06 – Henry Louis Muench

Henry Louis Muench, 85, passed away of natural causes on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at his home in Shattuc, IL. He was born September 9, 1937, the son of Henry Louis Muench Sr. and Verona A. Muench (nee Simmons) of Shattuc.

A lifelong Christian dedicated to his faith in the Lord, Louis was raised in the Methodist church where his grandfather Simmons was a prominent pastor. Later in life, Louis converted to the WWCG, a non-denominational church where he met his future wife, Shirley.

Louis was extremely intelligent with an IQ of over 200 and a mind that loved to solve problems. A successful student of natural health remedies, he was even able to cure his wife’s cancer and his nephew’s asthma using traditional Native American remedies.

A testament to his strength, Louis chose to become an electrical engineer despite a near-death experience with electricity. At the age of 15, he was electrocuted by an exposed live wire while climbing a tree on a schoolboy dare. The force of the electrical charge knocked him out of the tree unconscious. Although he was not expected to live, his mother insisted that the hospital provide lifesaving care and skin grafts. With her support, he made it through the ordeal but the incident severely injured his left hand, leaving it withered.

As early as Junior High, Louis began driving long-haul trucks throughout the Western US. But the major part of Louis’ career included building oil and gas processing plants all over the Western US. As a homage his work at the mills of Klamath Falls during the 1960’s, he went on to invent new types of woodworking machines. Additionally, he had a passion for electronics, starting with early versions of computers at an industrial level.

Always prepared with survival gear, Louis saved the lives of his family and strangers from whiteout blizzards during rough Wyoming winters. Additionally, he, with local townsmen, rescued the school children of Douglas, WY after they were walled into the elementary school by over 10 feet of snow. After what seemed like days had passed the the schoolchildren were led into a snow filled tunnel where school busses were lined up waiting to ferry precious students to their homes. As the busses passed through of the tunnel of snow into the light of day, the children looked out of the bus windows and stretched their heads up in astonishment to see their fathers, armed with shovels, standing atop an enormous embankment of snow that created a frozen wall on both sides of the road. Cheers and waves erupted from all the students. They knew their fathers were heroes!

A man with a hand and a half did more than most two-handed men. He was an incredibly hardworking and inspirational hero to his family. He was a man who could weather any storm that life sent him. He will be dearly missed. Louis was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his parents, and his infant brother Charles.

Louis is survived by his daughter Ruth and husband David Fisher of Gig Harbor, WA; his, two sons, Henry Louis Muench Jr. of Shattuc; Carl and wife Beverly of Shattuc; as well as six grandchildren: Kailin, Angela, David, Jacob, MaKaylah, and Wanda. Also surviving are siblings John ‘Jack’ and wife Chris of Indianapolis, IN; Frantz of Shattuc; Rebecca and husband Bob Schwankhaus of Okawville IL; Douglas and wife MelRae of Shattuc; and their families.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the Shattuc United Methodist Church located at 112 Illinois Ave, Shattuc, IL. This will be followed by a graveside service at Sandoval City Cemetery, located at 850-912 County Rd 900 N. Sandoval, Illinois 62882. Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, are honored to be of service to the Muench Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook Page.