James H. Menke

James H. Menke, 82, of rural Donnellson, died at 11:15 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 2004 at the Fort Madison Community Hospital.

      A mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Houghton with Father Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Houghton. Visitation began at 2 p.m. today at the church with a rosary at 3 p.m. and a Christian vigil service at 7 p.m. Memorials have been established to St. John's Catholic Church or Marquette Schools. Link Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements.

      Mr. Menke was born July 31, 1921 in Houghton, the son of Henry and Katherine Holtkamp Menke. He married Rita T. Veith on Jan. 3, 1948 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Keokuk by Father William B. Schmidt. He was a lifelong resident of the Houghton area and a retired farmer. He was a past board director of Pilot Grove Savings Bank. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church of Houghton and the Knights of Columbus of Houghton.

      Survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael and his wife Mary Lu Menke and Marty and his wife Kathy Menke, all of Donnellson; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Art W. and his wife Joan Menke of West Point; and two sisters, Sister Rita Menke and Sister Bernardine Menke, both of Milwaukee, Wis.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.