John M. Menke 1950-2019

MENKE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/21/2024 at 21:11:02

John M. Menke
(April 14, 1950 - April 14, 2019)

John M. Menke - age 69, of Twin Lakes and formerly of Fonda, died Sunday April 14, 2019 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. John Marvin Menke was born April 14, 1950 in Laurens, Iowa. He was the son of Elmer and Dorothy (Wilhelmi) Menke. John was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School, graduating in 1968. On April 12, 1969, John was united in marriage to Darla Dee McManus at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Together, they were blessed with three children; Michael, Danielle and Anthony. They lived in Fonda where John owned the Fonda Tool & Die Shop. Darla was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1987. On February 24, 1990, John married Phyllis (Bangert) Ballard at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Phyllis brought to their union two children, Terry and Leta. In 1997 they moved to Twin Lakes. John enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved being on the water, going to Jamaica and the Gulf Coast. Dancing, hunting asparagus, short road trips, jigsaw puzzles and playing cribbage were a few of his favorite pastimes. He also enjoyed his sports and was an avid Hawkeye fan his entire life. John was a lifelong Knights of Columbus member. He served on the Fonda Fire Department for 18 years, 14 of those as Fire Chief and he served on the Fonda City Council for many years. In 2014 John was diagnosed with IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) a disease with no cure. On April 12, 2016 John underwent a life saving lung transplant. Rejection of the new lung and issues associated with transplant took his life. He fought hard and gave it his all until his body had nothing left to give. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Phyllis; his children, step-children and 8 grandchildren: son, Michael (Regina Kelly) of Altoona; grandchildren, Jacob and Rachel Menke; daughter, Danielle (Kevin) Merten of Oswego, IL; grandchildren, Kyle and Addison Merten; son, Anthony (Tiffani Jarvis) of Fonda; grandchild, Seth Menke; step-son, Terry (Summer Burris) Janssen of Park City, UT; grandchildren, Cameron, Harper and Soren Janssen and step-daughter, Leta (Tim) Wood of Fort Dodge. John was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Dorothy Menke; wife, Darla; brother, Vernon and granddaughter, Emily June Menke. Copyright Lampe & Powers Funeral Home, (712) 464-7665, www.powersfh.net