JAMES RONALD MENKE

August 23, 1941 – August 19, 2022

James (Jim) Ronald Menke, the second child of Vincent and Eldora Menke, was born on August 23, 1941, in Polk County, Wisconsin.   He passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 19, 2022, following a long battle with Parkinson's and dementia.

During his high school years at White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota, Jim was confirmed into the Lutheran faith.  After high school, Jim followed in the Menke family footsteps doing iron work, much of it being on skyscrapers in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area.  He was the first in his family to decide to go to college where he enrolled in a small junior college, Bethany Lutheran, at Mankato, Minnesota, which left a lasting impression on his life.  He then chose to seek out new adventures in the state of Texas and headed to Texas Lutheran College.  It was here where he met Doris Ann Moehring, who he would later lovingly refer to as "the one bright spot in my whole dull life".  They were married on November 13, 1965.

Upon graduation from college, Jim entered the Air Force Officer Training School at Medina Base, San Antonio, and graduated as a 2 ^nd Lt. assigned to Mather AFB in California for Navigation School.  After Jim's stint with the Air Force ended due to injury, he served as an employment counselor for the state of Minnesota.

After resettling back in Texas, he decided to become an environmentalist joining the newly formed Texas Air Control Board, serving 30 years as Regional Supervisor for the Houston and then the San Antonio Regions.

After retirement in San Antonio, Jim devoted his newfound freedom to working on his 1940 Ford coupe and 1941 Ford pickup.  He was very fond of the local Early Ford V8 car club and the many life-long friends that were made and good times that were had in club activities.

He was also an avid historian and genealogist.  His notoriety as a well-known resource on Medina County history has spread far and wide.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Doris Menke; son, David Menke and fiancé, Alejandra Jones of Aventura, Florida; daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Justin Robinson of Canyon Lake, Texas; and his beloved grandsons Jack and Oliver Robinson of Canyon Lake, Texas.  He is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Janet and Patrick Lee of Lindstrom, Minnesota; and sister Joan Anderson of Cushing, Wisconsin.

We will miss that twinkle in his blue eyes, his clever, quiet Yankee humor, and his love of history and great stories that made life fun and interesting.

For those who wish to honor his memory, the family suggests a donation to Bethany Lutheran College, Scholarship Giving, 700 Lutheran Drive, Mankato, MN  56001 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD  21741-5014.