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In Memoriam

Jesuit Father George R. Menke died on June 15, 2018, at the Brebeuf Jesuit Community in Indianapolis. He was 75 years old, a Jesuit for 57 years, and a priest for over 40 years.

Born in Cincinnati on Aug. 31, 1942, Fr. Menke graduated from St. Xavier High School before entering the Society on Aug. 8, 1960, at Milford, Ohio. He had the usual Jesuit course of studies – novitiate and Juniorate in Milford, philosophy studies at the Bellarmine School of Theology in North Aurora, Ill, and theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago. Fr. Menke was ordained on June 7, 1975, made tertianship in 1985, and pronounced his final vows on May 4, 1989, at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

Fr. Menke taught Spanish at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago during Regency (1967-1971) and after his ordination (1975-1997). In 1997, Fr. Menke moved to Indianapolis and worked at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School until his death. He had many duties at Brebeuf over the years: Administrative Assistant to the president (1997-2000); teacher of Spanish and Social Justice (1998-2000); Special Assistant to the Development Director (2000-2006); Assistant in Campus Ministry (2004-2018); and Special Assistant to the Principal (2007-2018).

In addition to his love of teaching Spanish and Social Justice courses, Fr. Menke enjoyed tutoring students in Spanish. He also was devoted to the spiritual and service dimensions of students’ lives and frequently was an attendee on school retreats and service trips, and a student chaplain. Fr. Menke was able to use his diverse talents to help Brebeuf by working on the schools’ databases, in the school’s Business Office, driving school buses, and volunteering for school athletic events. Fr. Menke truly was devoted to Brebeuf and its students and will be missed by the entire school community.