"Mr. Moen was the father of one of my best friends, Janet. When i met him and Mrs. Moen, i knew why my friend had such a strong sense of security and joy about her -- it was the godly family where she grew up. A few things i remember about him was his gentle and kind spirit, his tender and generous heart for full-time missionaries, and that twinkle in his eyes and smile when he talked, that showed his childlike faith and love for the Lord and for His people. I've often thought I'd like to be like him and Mrs. Moen when i grow up. I'll always miss such godly people in my life!"
In loving memory of
Lenard E. Moen
November 22, 1923 - December 19, 2019
Lenard Evert Moen was born on November 22, 1923 in Long Beach, California to Wilbur and Harriet Moen. He had one older sister, Mildred. In 1925 they moved to Whittier and bought a 4 -acre farm of walnuts and citrus trees where they could also have farm animals and a large garden. In the early 1930s, during the Depression, their little farm housed and fed relatives and friends in addition to their family. He remembered having big picnics on the weekends with a complete chicken dinner and all the fixins.
Lenard went to West Whittier School and then on to Whittier High School. Lots of his school friends also lived in the country. They rode all over on their bikes and hunted jack rabbits with 22 rifles. He loved to build things and Evie remembered seeing him going down the road in a go cart contraption that he had built. In high school he took mechanical classes. He had a beautiful voice as did his sister Mildred and often sang solos in choir and even sang in some musical plays.
In 1942 Lenard graduated from Whittier High and enrolled in Pasadena Junior College. After a semester he decided to join the Army Air Force rather than be drafted as a foot soldier in WWII. He was interested in air craft due to his mechanical bent, and after completing Aviation Mechanics School he applied for pilot training which eventually put him over Germany in a B-17. On August 14, 1944 his plane, Hardluck, suffered mechanical failure that made the crew guests of the Germans for 10 months. Through this experience Lenard said that God was teaching him what really trusting Him was all about.
Upon Lenards return from the war his parents persuaded him that he should become a Chiropracter. While attending school he was also attending First Brethren Church in uptown Whittier. Lenard and Evie Miller grew up as neighbors and graduated a year apart from Whittier High School. Upon his return from World War II they became re-acquainted when he was invited to a Bible study for young people. Lenard took Evie home afterward and they dated thereafter until they were married on March 11, 1947. Evie died a week short of their 70th anniversary on March 4, 2018.
After an eight month venture in the Chiropractic practice, God redirected his life and eventually opened an opportunity to start a small business in 1951 with his Dad. They purchased a twelve hundred-dollar belt drive lathe which launched the start of their job shop making pump parts. The business was named Moen Machine Works. The name was later changed to Moen Industries and went on to become a leader in the manufacture of corrugated packaging equipment with Lenard doing the design work.
Lenard and Evie raised five children - Phyllis, Carl, Earl, Dale and Janet. There was less than 6 years between Phyllis and Janet so life was busy for the family. When the children were young they helped start a new church on Washington Blvd Community Brethren Church as well as a school. All 5 kids attended Brethren Elementary and Jr High from K through 8th grade. Years later Lenard and Evie helped launch a church plant in La Mirada called Creek Park Church.
Lenard was involved on many church boards as well as the Brethren Elementary and Jr High School Board. He also served on the Youth For Christ Board and then later on the Brethren Foreign Missions Board where he served for 15 years. Lenard and Evie both had a heart for others, always generous with their time and hospitality and were a blessing to all those who spent time in their home. They had a heart for missions and made lasting friendships with many missionaries some of whom they were able to visit on the mission field. Their home was always open to missionaries who were back in the states.
His family not only respected him for his spiritual wisdom but sought him out for sound advice and counsel. He was blessed with a family who loved him deeply and were honored to celebrate his 96th birthday on November 23rd of this year. They were blessed to call him Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa (Pa Pa) and recently Great Great Grandpa.
Lenard was preceded in death by his son, Earl, in 1989 and by his loving wife, Evie, on March 4, 2018 and son-in-law, Larry Allen on May 21, 2018. He is survived by his children Phyllis Allen (Larry), Carl (Anita), Dale (Marghy) and Janet Clough (Bob) as well as six grandchildren and spouses and seventeen great grandchildren and one great great grandson.
Tributes
"I was roommates with Lenard's daughter Janet in the Philippines. I remember when he came to visit what a joy he was to get to know. I remember his heart to pray and his solid walk with Jesus. When i was back in the States he and Evie made time to meet me and pray for me and he was always so eager to hear and talk about discipleship. He had a heart for people to know Jesus and to grow in their walk with him. He was a humble, Godly servant and will be missed."
"A Mentor and a Friend: Lenard Moen We first met Lenard in the fall of 1978. We had just moved to the LA area from Oregon so that Tom could enter seminary at BIOLA. It was unsettling to move from a small town in Oregon to the big LA area where we had no friends and no church. Upon visiting Whittier Community Grace Brethren Church we realized that we fit with this group of followers of Christ. Either the first or the second visit to the church, we met Lenard. He had a warm smile and a gentle disposition that we soon realized was combined with the gifts of leadership and knowledge of not only the Bible, but the realities of life. Right away, Lenard became a friend and mentor for our family. His role of a mentor was not a formalized relationship but a very real one. While in seminary we learned many important aspects of Gods Word, but it was life with Lenard and his family where these truths were being fleshed out. Without Lenards input into our lives, we would have graduated with only half of a good seminary training. Lenard lived out what a good elder should be. Although we never did take a formal class that he taught, we learned from him in his family room, in the church narthex and even in the church parking lot where Lenard taught us many valuable truths and applications of the Word and life. The Moens home became a place where we experienced true hospitality that is expected of an elder. He was very generous. His love of missions was well known. Lenard was the first person from one of our supporting churches to visit us in Japan. We know that many were influenced by Lenard and will miss him, but the legacy that he left is still making an impact in many places around the world and in our own lives today."
"I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FOR LENARD FOR 25 YEARS AND KNOWING HIM MUCH LONGER. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY I HAVE GREAT REGRET THAT I HAD NOT VISITED HIM IN QUITE A TIME. I PLANNED ON IT, TOLD MY WIFE BOBBIE ABOUT IT. AND STUFF LIKE DR. APPTS. ETC. I PUT IT OFF AND MY HEART IS BROKEN. BUT MY HEART ALSO DELIGHTS KNOWING THAT LENARD IS WITH JESUS, AND REUNITED WITH LOVELY EVIE, AND MY OLD FRIEND EARL WHO I GOT TO WORK WITH. LENARD WAS THE MOST GENEROUS AND KIND LOVING MAN I'VE EVER KNOWN. HIS MIND IN MECHANICAL THINGS WAS SOMETHING TO BE WITNESSED, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RARE BOO BOO. I ONLY KNOW CARL AND EARL HAD THE SIMILAR CAPACITY TO DESIGN, BUILD, AND IMAGINE NEAT THINGS. LENARD WAS A SIMPLE MAN IN A WAY THAT HE WAS NOT TURNED ON BY NEW CARS, CLOTHING, JEWELRY. TALKING ABOUT JESUS WAS HIS FAVORITE TOPIC. AND HE ALWAYS WANTED TO HEAR WHAT GOD WAS DOING IN YOUR LIFE OR CHURCH YOU ATTENDED. MY DEEPEST AND SINCERE SYMPATHY FOR THE ENTIRE MOEN FAMILY. THANKS, Bob Brancati "PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND HIS MEMORIAL, I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET SICK""
"Lenard Moen I could say so much about him what a servant for Jesus Christ . Lenard and Evie showed Linda Jo and myself the true love of Jesus we our born again thank you my friend. To Carl Dale Janet and Phyllis may God comfort you with His peace knowing we all will see them again. Love you all Frank an Linda Jo"
"I have been blessed for over 60 years to have the Moen family in my life. Mr. Moen, mentor and friend, my 1st boss that gave me my first pay check (age 15) at the new Moen Machine Shop location on Los Nietos Rd. and John St. in Santa Fe Springs. I praise the Lord for the close relationship that my Mother and Father had with Mr. & Mrs. Moen, priceless, his knowledge and his love for Jesus overwhelming, his soft spoken heart to heart talks with me when my life was in a tail spin reassuring me that God has a plan for me and that he would always pray for me and my family. Phyllis, Carl, Dale and Janet, God bless you and comfort you and give much piece to you and your families. He will be truly missed. P.S. I wonder of there's a critter or squirrel problem in Heaven??? hahaha"