Merna Rae (Dodge) Menke (1935-2011)

DODGE, SONES, MENKE, SMITH, SCHABEN, DIRKS, PYLE, IBLINGS, MATHER

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 11/15/2016 at 12:57:46

Merna R. Menke

A funeral service for Mema R. Menke was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 12, 2011, at the Hartley United Methodist Church in Hartley, Iowa. Rev. Steve Campbell officiated. Pallbearers were Kyle Smith, Landon Smith, Craig Menke, Austin Schaben, Ryan Schaben, Walter Schaben and Griffin Menke. Honorary pallbearers were Karmen Smith, Carissa Menke, Enka Menke, Bailey Schaben and Riley Menke. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Merna Rae (Dodge) Menke, the daughter of Everett and Averil (Sones) Dodge, was born on March 26, 1935, in Sioux City, Iowa. She spent her childhood years in Hartley, Iowa, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Hartley High School with the Class of 1953.

On January 14, 1956, she married Eldon Menke in Hartley. Following their marriage, the couple farmed northwest of Hartley until 1998. They were blessed with five children: Lori, Randy, Kenny, Steven and Julie. Along with taking care of her home and family, Merna enjoyed 28 years working as a librarian at the Hartley Public Library.

Reading, gardening, and spending time outdoors were among her favorite pastimes. She enjoyed watching Iowa college teams, and her cookie jar was always full. She was an active member of her church and community. She had been a faithful blood donor throughout her life.

Following a six year battle with cancer, Merna passed away peacefully at her home in Hartley on Friday, September 9, 2011, at the age of 76.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 55 years, Eldon; her children and their families: Lori and Ken Smith, Randy and Rhonda Menke, and Kenny Menke, all of Hartley, Steven and Stephanie Menke of Lakewood, Colorado, and Julie and Jon Schaben of Dunlap, Iowa, 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Darrell Dodge of Hartley; two sisters, Janna Dirks of Spencer, Iowa, and Deena Pyle of Ankeny, Iowa; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Gordon Dodge, a granddaughter, Alexandria Schaben, three brothers-in-law, Glenn Iblings, Frank Mather and Donald Dirks.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, Sep 15, 2011, p4