Roger W. Menke of Tampa, FL passed away at the age of 87 Saturday Nov 7, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret Menke, four children (with Gail Ann Menke) Philip (Tracy), Stephen, Luanne Lockwood (Michael) and Sandra Menke Sanchez (Rick). Roger and Margaret married in 1992
welcoming as part of the family Michael A. Perkins (Kim), Michele Howell, Leslie Caroccio (Joseph), Jennifer Cutcliff (Mike) and David Perkins (Joy). The combined family includes, twenty grand children and five great-grand children.
Roger graduated Gresham High School, Portland, OR in 1951 where he was Student Body President. He enrolled at Oregon State University, entered the United States Air Force ROTC program, became President of Kappa Sigma fraternity and
graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 1955. He was commissioned 2nd Lt in the Air Force and piloted C-124 Globemaster II “Old Shakey” Transport planes around the globe. He returned to complete an MBA at Stanford University.
Roger and Gail married in Ft Lauderdale, FL in 1960. They returned to California where he earned a MBA at Stanford University. Roger and Margaret met at a Tampa Bay Runners event in 1989 and married in 1992. Roger volunteered with numerous organizations giving generously of his time and love. Among them are YMCA, Hands on Tampa and the James A Haley VA Medical Center.
He was President of the Tampa Bay Runner’s Club and enjoyed building friendships while participating in races and social events. At St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church he received the honors of Third Degree in the Knights of Columbus Council 12956 and was actively involved with St. Vincent DePaul especially the annual
Thanksgiving food drive. He was also former President of the St. Mark Active Retired Trendsetters.
He and Margaret visited nursing home residents over several
years further enriching the lives of those around them.
Roger enjoyed tennis, bowling, billiards, camping, traveling and watching the Bucs, Rays and Oregon State Beavers. But most of all he thrived on visiting with family.
Donations can be made in his name to the St. Vincent DePaul at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church or James A Haley VA Medical Center or any veteran’s organization of your choice.
Please visit the website to sign the guestbook www.veteransfuneralcare.com.
Services will be held at a date to be determined in 2021. Church address St. Mark The Evangelist 9724 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa. Private burial service will be the following day at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
Dear Margaret and Family: With deepest sympathy, we are thinking of you and keeping all in our prayers.Warmest regards, Patricia and Angelo Giglia.
To all the Menkes and extended family,
Our hearts are breaking with yours but our thoughts and prayers are with you. Roger truly was a kind, generous and authentically happy man – this is how I will always remember him. He was loved by so many and loved all of you, his dear family, the very best.
Please accept my family’s condolences as we wish you all some peace soon in his memories.
The Virginia Segrests
Andy, Bill, Adam, Emily and Catherine
To my sister in spirit Luanne and all of the family
Roger always made me laugh and was a great friend and father to all. I will miss him but I will never forget him. He has been in my life since I can remember. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and what a wonderful tribute to Roger. He had a wonderful life and a loving family.
Love you all,
Deb McComas Taylor, the entire Taylor and McComas Family.
Margaret, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort knowing he is no longer in pain and resting in peace. God Bless.
Mona Charbonneau
We will miss Roger and his positive influence on his many friends. Our prayers are with Margaret and their families.
Our condolences to Rogers family.
We feel so horonednto have known
Roger. He was a very special man.
He was always doing for others.
May he Rest In Peace.
Margaret, words cannot express how sad I am to hear of Roger’s passing. I know he is no longer suffering, but we will miss him. We will miss his sense of humor. We will miss his kindness. He was a true gentleman. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during these trying times.
Love,
Susan and Mimo
Margaret, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family with deepest sympathy. Roger is now home with God and is resting in peace. Roger was a very friendly and kind man. He will be missed.
Mar great so sorry to hear about Roger he was a wonderful man. I kept praying for him. God has a better place for him.. condolences to all the families
Dear Menke’s family and Margaret- I am so sorry for your loss. losing a loved one is never easy. I am not exactly sure what one could say to comfort you. I knew Roger as Big Daddy that was the name my father gave him. I know Roger loved all of his kids. Phil-Steve-Luanne-Sandy always there helping all of them become wonderful in sports be it with his boys baseball and with his girls softball. not only were Luanne and Sandy the best in our neighborhood they were probably arguably some of the best to ever play for Temple Terrace. Big Daddy was even there to help my Dad help coach the Mighty Astros baseball team for a couple of seasons at Temple Terrace. Big Daddy and my Dad came up with a motto for the team and that was (keep it fun) I knew Roger is the hay days of the mid to late 70’s. He was a great friend to my family and was always there for my dad truly a great man giving kind caring generous and fun. Roger you are definitely going to be missed. my thoughts and prayers for all the family as we close out 2020 !! Much love Baron Von Hoff
Dear Margaret and family,
I will miss Roger’s wonderful smile but know he continues to smile on all of us now from Heaven.
God bless his soul and your entire family in your loss.
Val
Margret and family,
We are sending you all our thoughts and prayers. We have had the honor of loving and admiring both Margret and Rodger for many years. The two of you are the best example of love and faith that has left an everlasting mark on our hearts. We have been blessed with knowing such an amazing man! A life well lived!
With our love and deepest condolences,
The Reich family
Roger was a great guy. I’ll miss him.
DEAR MARGARET AND FAMILY,
YOU ARE ALL IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. I KNOW ROGER IS AT PEACE AND RESTING IN HIS HEAVENLY REWARD.
I AM SURE HE WILL BE WATCHING OVER YOU AND HIS FAMILY AND ALWAYS GIVE LOVE AND GUIDANCE TO YOU ALL!
LOVE AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
MAUREEN
Dear Margaret,
My deepest sympathy goes out to you and all your family. May Roger rest in the Lord’s arms for all eternity.
Your Columbiette sister,
Mary Grace Angiulli
It was my privilege to know Roger from St. Mark’s Church and mini golf from the Smarts group. I could see he was well liked by his actions and smile. Rest in peace and love.
Dear Margaret ans Family
My condolence to you and your family.
My prayers are with you.
Dear Margaret and the entire Menke family. We want to express our sincerest and deepest sympathy for your loss. Roger was a good man, kind and gentle and a lot of fun. He had a great energy that he shared with others and was an inspiration to all who met him. We hope that the family and especially you, Margaret, will be comforted in knowing he is at peace and that your loving memories of him will bring you comfort.
With Loving Sympathy, Kathy and Tom Bennett
Margaret, we are so sorry for your loss. George was so glad to see you two when when you came to visit him when he was at Concordia. Roger was an amazing man! He will be missed. Our hearts and prayers are with you.
Sorry for your loss. Roger was a lovely man. Robert enjoyed bowling with Roget. May he Rest In Peace.
Robert and Lillian Loth
Dear Margaret and family,
We were saddened to hear about your loss. Roger was truly a caring person which was exhibited by his generosity and charitable persona. We will sincerely miss him but we will remember the good times with him. Prayers for everyone.
Frank and Alice Turturro
My sincerest condolences to you, Margaret, and the entire Menke family. I knew Roger from church and St. Vincent de Paul. His kindness always showed through and he will be dearly missed. I will keep Roger and all of you in my prayers. May God bless you now and always.
Dear margaret and the Menke family shirley and i are sending our prayers and condolences Roger was a terrific person although we have only known him for a short while he was always one who fit in with every one our love to you and your family Dan & SHIRLEY Podlewski
Our deepest condolences to Margaret and she and Roger’s families. One heck of a guy. Always kind, gentle, generous and compassionate. Our lives were blessed for having known Roger. God speed my friend. Heaven awaits.
Margaret: What a great guy he was indeed! I first met Roger when I worked at the VA and he was so wonderful to work with when we started the Thanksgiving Gift Basket Program for veterans with Fr. Ed and St. Vincent DePaul. Whenever he was in the hospital he made it a point to stop by my office and say hello and when I saw him at church he always asked out my grandchildren and inquired about when was I going back out to California – such a love he was, always smiling, always so gracious. I will miss his smiles at St. Mark’s. He was a dear man that I know God has in his hands! May he rest in peace. You are of course, in my thoughts and prayers and my deepest sympathies to your entire family. Take Care.
Mary
Dear Margaret and all the Menke family,
We were so sorry to hear the sad news of Roger’s passing. He was such a lovely man with a truly unique soul. Roger always seemed to have a smile on his face and was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need. We have such fond memories of our “River Hills” days when Burt lived in Temple Terrace and Roger was a part of our gang of friends. Looking back, I don’t think we ever realized how much older he was than us which is a true testament to the power of friendship and kindred spirits. Whether coaching little league with Burt and his brother, Bruce, playing volleyball on our team “Jammin'” or partying with a bunch of twenty-somethings, Roger was and will always remain a special part of our lives. He was joyful and kind and a good and faithful servant. We were all better for knowing him and will miss him greatly. Sending you all much love and prayers for God’s peace.
Dear Margaret and Family,
Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
John and Jennifer DePiero
Dear Margaret & to the rest of the Menke family – I am so very sorry for your loss. Roger was a very nice and pleasant man. I’lll always remember that when I first moved to Florida, he (and Margaret) would pick me up to take me to our bowling alley (from SMARTS, at St. Mark’s), as I didn’t know the area. He was kind enough to continue to do this until he was sure that I could find it on my own. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.
Margaret, you now have an angel watching over you. I will be praying for you and your family.
With deepest sympathy,
Ann Spiwak
Dear Margaret and family so very sorry for your loss!! I have great memories of Roger and Bruce Von Hoff spending time with us as kids. Being one of Baron’s good friends growing up I don’t think I would have my passion for sports or caring for others without Roger and Bruce. Weather at the ballparks,beach or just in the neighborhood the 2 of them always had some time for us. Great memory from the beach during the NBA playoffs with them and watching the great friendship the 2 of them had. Not to mention the Jammin song. Were jamming,jamming and I hope you like jamming to!!! I’ve had multiple dreams about that day at the beach. Those sure were the days and am blessed to have experienced these times. Truly a great,giving and caring person.He will not only be missed but the values the both of them instilled in me (giving hearts) ill carry forever!!! Roger is now Jamming with the Good Lord for sure!!!!
I love Roger so much and will miss him it he will always have a home to live in my heart
I love Roger so much!
We will miss Roger and is positive influence on his many friends.HERE COMES A HOME RUN FOR ROGER MENKE AND HE IS SAFE IN HEAVEN! Never ever forget him