Biopic of Wilbert Allen Menke

Dr Dave Menke's mother, Dorothy Menke (1921-1981), had an older brother, Wilbert Allen Menke (1914-1972), aka "Bert." For any reader following the family trend, most, if not all, of Oscar Menke's brothers had the middle name of "Allen." Oscar's son has the same middle name. Oscar's grandson, Stephen Menke (who is also Dr Dave Menke's brother) also has that middle name, as does the son of Stephen Menke. No genealogical reason can be determined why "Allen" was used.

Bert Menke was born in St Louis, Missouri, on December 18, 1914, some four years after the marriage of his parents, Oscar A. Menke (1888-1972) and Bess Menke (1889-1972). In later years, Bess Menke confided that the childbirth process for her to give birth to Wilbert was so painful and uncomfortable, she decided to have NO MORE children. Luckily, she gave birth to Dorothy Menke 7 years later.

Bert was a highly intelligent and precocious child. He often stood in a "pose" that resembled today's rappers. (see the photograph as the main picture for this Blog). As a child, Bert took piano lessons, and learned how to play the piano like a maestro - like Tchaikovsky himself. His parents bought a grand piano for him to play on, and it remained in the living room of the Menke home from 1927 until 1972. Bert was so "bright" that he graduated from Webster Groves High School at age 16, two years before his same age cohorts. He then went to the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, graduating at age 19. As a chemist, he learned to make "bathtub gin" so during his days at college, during prohibition, he never lacked for ethanol to drink.

After graduating college, he worked for several years as a chemical engineer at DuPont and then Monsanto Chemical, both near St Louis, Missouri.

World War II intervened, and Bert signed up with the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator. He flew a number of sorties in the Pacific Theatre against Japan, but was shot down. After that, his injury prevented more flying, so he was tapped as a flight instructor for other Naval Aviators. He looked pretty cool in his uniform, as a Navy Lieutenant.

After World War II was over, Bert's father, Oscar, wanted to retire. So, Bert didn't return to working in chemical plants. He became the President of the Menke Printing Company, and over the next 15 years made millions for himself and his father. Bert was a wonderful businessman and salesman. He married Ruby Tango in 1946, but they never had any children. Later we learned that Ruby's womb was not shaped properly.

Bert and Ruby were a great pair. They loved to go out and play, and they enjoyed getting drunk as often as possible. Sadly, over time, they became hard core alcoholics (and heavy smokers) causing their early deaths. And Bert drank himself into poverty, ruining the Menke Printing Company. He had owned a lake in Missouri, an airplane, expensive cars, and so forth. When he got "tired" of his wife, Ruby, he divorced her and married another woman, dying a few years later.

As family goes, Bert was the nephew of George Menke (1882-1932), Fred Menke (1885-1960), Lillian Menke (1894-1984), Walter Menke (1897-1967), and Harry Menke (1902-1988). Bert was very much like his uncle, George Menke (1882-1932). Both were drunks. Both were hard working but hard spending. Both had mean streaks. Both got divorced. Both died due to their bad habits. Both died broke. Bert's nephews used to refer to him as "Drunkle Bert" instead of "Uncle Bert."