Menke, Victor M.

Victor M. Menke, 81, of Dyersville, formerly of Luxemburg, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where a parish scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with burial in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Luxemburg. Officiating will be the Rev. Robert Gross.

Victor was born on Dec. 9, 1927, in Luxemburg, the son of Hugo and Hilda (Willenbring) Menke. He married Rosemary Wille on Sept. 12, 1950, in Guttenberg. Together they raised their four children and farmed south of Luxemburg until their retirement to Dyersville in 1993.

Victor loved fishing on the Mississippi, hunting, equestrian trail riding, playing cards and watching baseball. He was at his best working in his fields planting and harvesting. Playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren was one of his favorite joys in life.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; four children, Steve (Sandy) of New Vienna, Janet (Mike) Tegeler of Manchester, Judy (Mike) Neuhaus of Manchester, Tim (Sue) of Alexandria, Va.; seven grandchildren, Sara (Alan “AJ”) Finzel, Travis and Megan Rausch, Holly, Nick and Michael Menke; seven step-grandchildren, Mark (Jill) Tegeler, Jennifer (Corey) Coleman, Michelle (fiance, Jason Maiers) Tegeler, Phil (Olivia) Neuhaus, Amy (Jeff) DeMoss, and Matt and Nathan Neuhaus; two great-grandchildren, Aidan and Sophia Finzel; one sister, Clara (Eldon) Steffensmeier of Dyersville; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Margaret Wille, Lorraine (Bernard) Burkle, Donald (Dorothy) Wille and Leona Berger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Anton (Rose) Menke and Aloysius (Doris) Menke; his in-laws, Leo and Susan Wille; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Elizabeth (LaVern) Hoeger, JoAnn Wille and Lawrence Wille.

Memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Basilica.

Information available and condolences accepted at .