The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the passing of Terrence (Terry) August Menninger, a longtime nursery professional.

A celebration of life will be held at Palmer Creek Community Event Center, 606 4th St., in Dayton, Oregon, on February 17, 2024, from 1–4 p.m. 

Menninger was born to Fredrick John Menninger II and Louise Elizabeth Menninger in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 14, 1952, the third of six children.  Menninger grew up in La Cañada, California and graduated from St Francis High School.  He then attended University of California, Santa Cruz studying biology.

After spending a few years working at Mammoth Ski Resort he returned to La Cañada to take classes at Pasadena City College. It was there that he met his wife, Candace. They traveled together to Germany where he solidified his passion for German lager and the nursery industry. Menninger and his wife returned to California where he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, earning a degree in horticulture.

Menninger had a love for traveling and the outdoors, dedicating his life to a 40-plus year career in the nursery industry in Oregon where he eventually settled down and raised his two daughters with his wife. 

Menninger is survived by his wife, Candace; his daughter and her husband, Kate Menninger and Nate McCoy, and grandson August McCoy; and his daughter and her husband Melissa and Patrick Molomby. He is also survived by his brothers Fredrick Menninger and his wife Margaret, Kevin Menninger and his wife Kim, Chris Menninger and his wife Kim, Ned Menninger and his wife Andrea, and his sister Linda Healy and her husband John. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Helen Donaldson, sisters-in-law Cyndi Wood and her husband David, Gayle Onorato and her husband Pat, brother-in-law Rich Donaldson and 16 nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Fredrick and Louise Menninger.  

Menninger devoted his entire working life to the nursery business and working with Hispanic laborers. Contributions can be made to PCUN, an organization that supports farmworkers in Oregon.