Rolland Menk obituary
Rolland Ruben Menk passed away on August 16, 2024 at the age of 84 at his home in Lake City. He was born on April 3, 1940, to Arthur and Selma (Wills) Menk in Nicollet, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nicollet. Rolland attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Nicollet High School in 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., a Master of Science degree in education from Wayne State College, Wayne, Neb., and a Doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota. Rolland taught at Lutheran elementary schools in Goodhue, Minn. (Grace), Hoskins, Neb. (Trinity), Watertown, S.D. (St. Martin’s), and Green Bay, Wis. (St. Paul’s). For 25 years he was a professor at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., where he was a supervisor of student teachers and taught courses in curriculum and instruction and Children’s Literature. Rolland was active in the Southwest Minnesota Reading Council, Minnesota Reading Association, International Reading Association, and the National Middle School Association.
On June 21, 1964, he married Eunice Schulz at Zion Lutheran Church, South Milwaukee, Wis. Surviving are his wife, Eunice; and their four children, Maita (Bruce) Mueller of Gary, S.D.; Darin Menk of Poynette, Wis.; Kenda (Dean) Fluegge of Onalaska, Wis.; and Evan (Jan) Menk of LaGrange, Ill. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Selma; and his sisters, LaDonna Thompson and Charleen Rossow.
In 2005 Rolland and Eunice retired to Lake City, Minn. Rolland enjoyed watching the Golden Gophers, Twins, and Vikings; completing 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles; and solving crossword puzzles.
Rolland was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake City. Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 with Reverend David Peters presiding. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel in Lake City and one hour prior to the service at St. John’s on Wednesday. Burial will take place at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm, Minn. at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson – Peterson Chapel in Lake City.