Biopic of Fred A Menke

Dr Dave's maternal grandfather, Oscar Menke (1888-1972) was the 3rd son of Henry Menke. His older brother, Fred A. Menke (1885-1960), was the 2nd son of Henry John Menke (1854-1911) and Philippina Ottwein Menke (1861-1937), and was born in St Louis in 1885.

Fred was a friendly old soul, and everyone liked him. When he grew up, he got a job as an insurance salesman, and that's where he stayed until he retired. Later in life, he always played "Santa Claus" for all the Menke family during Christmas.

Fred met and married a lady named Kate Macklin (1890-1954) and they had two children. Russell Menke (1914-1917), the first child, was said to be a beautiful child who could "swear like a drunken sailor." Sadly, he caught scarlet fever and died before he was three years old. At that point, Fred and Kate decided to have no more children, as the pain of loss was so great. However, Fred's wife, Kate, got pregnant again, and she did all that she could to abort the child. To no avail, Marvin Menke was born when his mother was in her 40's in 1935. As it turned out, Marvin Menke (1935-1988) was always a little "slow." As no professional psychologist or psychiatrist ever examined Marvin, it is difficult to know for sure if he were mentally challenged, stupid, or just "slow."

Fred outlived Kate by 6 years, and died the day after Christmas, 1960.