Biopic of Oscar Allen Menke

The maternal grandfather of David Menke was Oscar Allen Menke, who was born April 26, 1888 in St Louis, Missouri. He was the 3rd child of Henry (1854-1911) and Philippina Menke (1861-1937). Four more children came after Oscar.

Oscar and his large family were fairly poor and didn't always have a lot to eat. The family needed for Oscar to work, so he went only up through the 8th grade. As a boy, he worked for Lemp's Brewery putting bottle caps on. Oddly, he never did become a drinker, nor did he smoke.

His picture here was taken about 1918, when he was 30 years old.

In 1903, he met his future wife, Elizabeth Helena Meyer (1889-1972), while he was working at the St Louis World's Fair. They dated for 7 years, then eloped to the next county. As a young man, he worked for Skinner-Kennedy Printing, and later saved up enough money to start his own business: The Menke Printing Company (1921-1966). Oscar and his wife had two children: Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972) and Dorothy Lillian Menke (1921-1981)

Oscar worked hard and made a good deal of money. He was able to buy some land and build a beautiful home on it, paying for all of it in cash. He was never in debt, and invested wisely in stocks, bonds, real estate, and other instruments. Because of this, he was able to wear expensive clothes, drive a series of luxury automobiles, (including a 1923 Buick Touring Car, 1929 Buick Model 27, 1936 Buick Roadmaster, 1942 Oldsmobile 98, 1947 Oldsmobile Club Sedan, 1951 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1961 Coupe de Ville, and his final car, a 1967 Cadillac Calais Coupe), and travel the world with his wife in his later years. He left a sizeable estate upon his death on May 6, 1972.

Oscar was an avid lake fisherman and loved playing gin rummy. He also really enjoyed listening to the radio of the games of the St Louis Cardinals baseball team.

Mini-Biopics of Erin, Kathleen, and Carol MacAleney

Erin (1958-), Kathleen (1960-), and Carol (1964-) are daughters of John MacAleney (1911-1979), and thus, half sisters of Dr Dave Menke (1951-). They are mentioned here briefly because they are Dr Dave's siblings. However, more information about them, and their families, will be detailed in a different blog related to the MacAleney family alone.

Erin Elizabeth MacAleney, known as "Bitsy," was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri. She earned college degrees in Chemistry, then met a man and got married. Erin and her husband have three children and live near St Louis in Pontoon Beach, Illinois (across the Mississippi River).

Kathleen Anne MacAleney, known as "Annie," was also born and raised in St Louis, Missouri. She skipped college, got a job, met a man and got married. Kathleen and her husband have one child and live in St Louis.

Carol Jeanne MacAleney, known as "Jeannie," was also born and raised in St Louis, Missouri. at the age of 2 1/2 she developed scarlet fever. Before she was able to get medical treatment, the illness caused permanent brain damage due to a high fever. As a result, she has spent most of her life in a State facility.

Biopic of Stephen Allen Menke

Stephen Allen Menke was born December 20, 1944, in St Louis, Missouri. His parents were Marshal Borcherts (1920? - ?) and Dorothy Menke (1921-1981).

Steve's father left when Steve was about 6 months old. At that point, he and his mother, Dorothy, went to live with his maternal grandparents, Oscar (1888-1972) and Bess (1889-1972) Menke. A picture of Steve shows how he appeared in 2007.

Steve's mother re-married when Steve was 5 years old; the man's name was John MacAleney (1911-1979); and they moved to another home. About a year later, Steve's mother gave birth to a boy, Steve's half brother, David MacAleney (1951-).

Steve did not get along with his stepfather, and after Steve's mother, Dorothy, divorced her second husband, John, Steve didn't seem to get along with his mother or little brother. At age 14, Steve moved permanently in with his maternal grandparents, Oscar and Bess Menke, where he remained through high school and beyond.

Steve married a woman named Bette Smith (1944-) and they had a son in February 1966. Steve and Bette had two more children, but then divorced about 1972.

Steve met and married a woman named Denise in 1981. A number of years later, they bought a home on Lake Montowese where they retired. Steve has always been interested in cars, and he owns several older autos that he has or will refurbish, such as a 1930 Model A Ford, a 1929 Ford Roadster, and a 1956 Ford Thunderbird.

Biopic of Dorothy Lillian Menke

Dorothy Lillian Menke was born on September 29, 1921, at her home in St Louis, Missouri. Her parents were Oscar Allen Menke (1888-1972) and Elizabeth Helena Meyer (1889-1972). Her brother, Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972) was the only other child in the home. Dorothy's middle name was to honor her paternal aunt, Lillian Menke (1894-1986).

In the photo, one can see Dorothy, her son, David, and her husband, John MacAleney.

At the age of six, Dorothy's family moved into a new home in Webster Groves, Missouri (a suburb of St Louis). Dorothy's father was a businessman who owned his own printing company. Most of the printing done by Menke Printing was advertising, and Dorothy was often a "model" featured in the printed ads.

Dorothy was born with straight hair, but when her maternal grandmother was dying in 1923, she ran her fingers through Dorothy's hair, and two months later Dorothy's hair became as curly as her grandmother's.

Dorothy graduated from Webster Groves High School in 1940, and then went to Stephens College, an all-women's school. Dorothy wanted to become an actress and was quite good. However, her parents didn't want her to be an actress, so they pulled her out of school and put her to work in the family business as a secretary.

Dorothy met a man, Marshal Borcherts (1920? -?) in 1942 and got married. They had a child, Stephen, but then separated in 1945. Stephen was raised by his mother and grandparents.

In 1950, Dorothy met and married John MacAleney (1911-1979), and they had a son, David. Dorothy and John divorced in 1957 and Dorothy became a single parent again. She and David lived at 339 Redwood Drive, Webster Groves until 1968. Dorothy worked as a sales lady most of that time.

In 1968, Dorothy moved to Hawaii, met a Hawaiian man, Kimo Kahue (1925? -?) and married him. They were married for 6 years before separating.

For much of Dorothy's life, she was a heavy smoker and an alcoholic. She joined A.A. in 1973 and remained sober the last 8 years of her life.

Dorothy died of heart failure in 1981 in her adopted home of Hawaii but was buried in the family "plot" near St Louis, Missouri.

Biopic of John H. MacAleney, father of Dr Dave Menke

John Hillis MacAleney was born May 31, 1911 in Springfield, Illinois. He was the son of Edward and Elsie MacAleney.

(John is NOT a Menke, but is included here only because he is the father of Dr Dave Menke. Further information about John MacAleney and his family will be found in a blog about the MacAleney family).

The photo shows John MacAleney, Dorothy Menke, and David Menke in late 1953.

John grew up in a rough household, running away from home at age 16. When he was 18, he got married for the first time. That marriage was annulled after a year, and later he married again. His second wife died of a brain tumor. Then in 1950, he married Dorothy Menke and they had one child, David Menke.

John and Dorothy were divorced in 1957, and John re-married, having 3 daughters. John died of emphysema and heart problems in 1979.

John spent most his career, from 1931 - 1972, in the armed forces. First, he was in the Illinois National Guard. Then, in 1941, he was transferred to the United States Army where he worked in the Air Corps. After World War II, John became part of the Air Force and was a quartermaster and Master Sergeant.

Biopic of Dr Dave Menke

Dr. Dave Menke was born the son of John MacAleney (1911-1979) & Dorothy Menke (1921-1981), and raised in the state of Missouri, in and around the city of St. Louis. He has one older half brother, Steve, and three younger half sisters, Erin, Kathleen, and Carol. All of these relatives continue to live near St. Louis, Missouri.

After high school, Dave enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles, and over the next eleven years, earned bachelor’s degrees in physics, astronomy, math, and chemistry; master’s degrees in physics, geophysics, astrophysics, and the art of teaching physics; a teaching credential, and a PhD in Science Education.

During college, Dave dated a one JoAnn Bornstein (1951-) for four years, and then they were married in 1973. Over the course of their marriage, David & JoAnn had five children: Joshua (1976-), Jacob (1977-), Hannah (1980-), Rachel (1982-), and Jeremiah (1985-).

David and JoAnn separated in 1994. Two years later, Dr Dave married Gail Ann Foreman (1965-). David and Gail have one child, Luke-Adam, born in 1997.

Raised a Presbyterian, Dave became a Mormon in 1970, and is still active in that Church.

During his career, Dr. Menke has served as a public school teacher, community college instructor, and university professor. He has worked full time at such institutions as California State University, Northridge; Southern Utah University; Central Connecticut University; Broward Community College, and the College of Southern Nevada. Much of his career was also spent as an academic administrator of public observatories and planetariums.

After Dr Menke’s “retirement” in 2000, he has written books and worked in various high schools and colleges. Currently, Dr Menke is a Professor of Science & Mathematics at Brown Mackie College and is a Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Pima Community College. Both of these colleges are in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr Menke serves as the First Vice-President and COO of the International Planetarium Directors Congress. As a world traveler, Dr. Menke has served as leader of many expeditions, including observations of eclipses and comets – on land and at sea. Dr Menke speaks, reads, and / or writes 20 languages.

Four of Dr Menke’s children have kids of their own, resulting in 7 grandchildren.

Dr Menke’s wife is an elementary school teacher and mental health counselor.

INTRODUCTION TO MENKE FAMILY

Welcome to the Menke Family Blog ...

This Blog is historically the first of any Menke Blog on the Network. As such, it shall deal with members of the Menke Family, past, present, and future, and may include the names of Menke Family members who have their own separate blogs (e.g., http://www.menkefam@blogspot.com).

The image in this Blog includes the author with his two daughters and one of his daughters' girlfriends.

The Title Image on this Blog is a photograph of the Menke Home in February 1930. The three people in the picture - from left to right - are: Elizabeth Helena Meyer Menke (1889-1972), and her two children, Dorothy Lilllian Menke (1921-1981) and Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972). The photograph was taken by Oscar Allen Menke (1888-1972), the husband of Elizabeth and father of both Dorothy and Wilbert.

The location of the photograph is at 315 South Maple Avenue, Webster Groves, St. Louis County, Missouri. This is a suburb of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2-parcel piece of land was purchased in 1923 by Oscar Menke and the home was built on this north half of the parcel, with completion in 1927. The home was made of brick, stone, and the finest woods (mahogany, oak, and others).

The author of this Blog, Dr Dave Menke (1951-) is the second child of Dorothy Menke.

The topics of the Blog will be restricted to those Menke Family members, with allusion to other relatives. However, this is not a genealogy blog of each and every antecedant of Dr Dave Menke. Rather, this Blog deals only with Dr Dave Menke's direct Menke ancestors, and his Menke descendants, with mention of others. For example, Dr Dave Menke's father's family is named "MacAleney" and may be mentioned, but not covered extensively in this Blog. Dr Dave Menke's maternal grandmother's family is named "Meyer" and again, will not be covered in THIS Blog.

Any comments or questions may be sent to Dr Dave Menke at DrDHMenke@aol.com