When I was in my early to mid-teens, back around the mid 1980s, I met a man named Larry Muenks (pronounced min-icks). Larry was a co-worker at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and friend of my uncle Randy. Randy and Larry developed a friendship inside and outside of work and because I often tagged along with Randy I was able to get to know Larry in the process.
Larry owned a farm in Montgomery County, Missouri and was in the process of building a house and improving his property. He lived on the farm and drove to St. Louis every day for work. I loved going to Larry’s because he exposed me to a side of life I rarely ever saw – farm life. From about 1987 through 1995 I was very close with Larry and once I had my driver’s license I went out to his farm all the time at his invitation. Often time I would arrive at his place on Friday night after work and not leave for home until Sunday night.
Larry was a father-figure to me during those years. He really took me under his wing and taught me a lot. I killed my first four deer on his farm and I picked up numerous hunting tips from him. We baled and hauled hay together during the summer. He taught me how to drive both his large and small tractors. He owned nearly every tool imaginable and even had a hydraulic vehicle lift in his barn so you could pull a vehicle right into his barn over the lift, extend the arms underneath and raise it up, as if in a mechanic’s garage. He did so much work on my ’65 Chevy Bel-Air and especially my ’79 Chevy pickup I can’t even begin to calculate the total worth of all his services. We did U-joints, brakes, ball joints, valve cover replacements, transmission swaps, repacked wheel bearings, and on and on it went. When I tried to pay him for tangible things he provided, he refused to cash the check. I looked up to Larry in many ways. He suggested I build my own Craftsman tool set (which I did) and co-signed a loan with me back in 1992 for the sole purpose of establishing credit. I can’t think of a single non-family member who would have done that for me.
Larry owned a farm in Montgomery County, Missouri and was in the process of building a house and improving his property. He lived on the farm and drove to St. Louis every day for work. I loved going to Larry’s because he exposed me to a side of life I rarely ever saw – farm life. From about 1987 through 1995 I was very close with Larry and once I had my driver’s license I went out to his farm all the time at his invitation. Often time I would arrive at his place on Friday night after work and not leave for home until Sunday night.
Larry was a father-figure to me during those years. He really took me under his wing and taught me a lot. I killed my first four deer on his farm and I picked up numerous hunting tips from him. We baled and hauled hay together during the summer. He taught me how to drive both his large and small tractors. He owned nearly every tool imaginable and even had a hydraulic vehicle lift in his barn so you could pull a vehicle right into his barn over the lift, extend the arms underneath and raise it up, as if in a mechanic’s garage. He did so much work on my ’65 Chevy Bel-Air and especially my ’79 Chevy pickup I can’t even begin to calculate the total worth of all his services. We did U-joints, brakes, ball joints, valve cover replacements, transmission swaps, repacked wheel bearings, and on and on it went. When I tried to pay him for tangible things he provided, he refused to cash the check. I looked up to Larry in many ways. He suggested I build my own Craftsman tool set (which I did) and co-signed a loan with me back in 1992 for the sole purpose of establishing credit. I can’t think of a single non-family member who would have done that for me.
A photo I took of Larry and his wife Pam on October 26, 1991, just hours before their son Bryan was born. I was at Larry's for the weekend when this unexpected delivery occured. I went to the hospital with them and watched the 1991 World Series in the waiting room while Larry was with Pam giving birth, then he and I went out and had a steak dinner.
Around the time I got married Larry and I began to drift and our friendship never was the same after that. But the impact he made on my life is no less significant to me despite our drift. Around that same time Larry developed diabetes and experienced a significant weight loss – he no longer looked the same. In time, his health continuously worsened. Eventually he developed cancer which spread throughout his body. One of his kidneys was removed last summer, leaving him with only one. A few weeks ago, the doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do because the cancer was so widespread. They ceased dialysis and chemotherapy and the realization came that Larry’s life was nearly over. Fortunately I had the opportunity to see Larry twice more before he passed away. Then, about a week after I learned that chemo and dialysis had stopped, he breathed his last breath at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 while I was at work.
Reflecting on Larry and thinking about his impact on my life has reminded me more than ever that we need to be aware of the impact we can have on young people. In this life Larry had no idea how much his influence and mentorship meant to me, especially during the ages of 17-21. We often go through life thinking much of what we’re doing isn’t all that significant, but time tells a truer story.
Larry was not a Christian during his life but his diseases and the knowledge he had about the end of his life coming so quickly humbled Larry, a normally proud man. I think it showed him that no matter how strong we think we are, we are but dust. He recognized his weakness and began to feel remorseful for wrongs in his life. He knew he needed Jesus and wanted him in his life. I had the opportunity to speak briefly with him about that, as did others. I believe there is more evidence than not to suggest he is with the Lord right now. The deathbed conversion, while not ideal, is still valid, biblically demonstrated when Jesus saved the thief on the cross next to him. Without baptism and without good works to his credit, the thief acknowledged his sinfulness (Luke 23:41) and appealed to Jesus (Luke 23:42). Jesus’ answer was clear: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43. What more could a person want than to be with Jesus Christ for eternity! That is the very definition of heaven, and the thief attained it. I think there are always those who claim to be Christians that almost feel slighted at such a thought, that their “lifetime of service” should grant them a better fate than the deathbed convert. To deal with that issue, I recommend repentance from the sin of pride and to study the parable of the workers paid equally found in Matthew 20:1-16.
A photo of me with Larry on July 3, just five days prior to Larry's death.
Only God knows for sure now if Larry is with him. I can’t judge the precise mental capacity Larry had in his final days, but I do know this: someone who had a substantial impact on my life is now gone, and I will miss him.
