Mildred Lee "Millie" Menke

Mildred Lee "Millie" Menke, nee Mees, 75, of Waterloo, IL, died June 7, 2024, in St. Louis, MO. She was born September 4, 1948, in Belleville, IL.

She is survived by her husband Robert W. Menke; children Susan (Ken) Stratman, April (Scott) Kirkley, Daniel (Megan) Menke, and Mildred (Joseph) Powers; 12 grandchildren Angela, John, and Matthew Stratman, Caroline (Nate) Eschmann, Luke and Liam Kirkley, McKenna, Jackson, and Logan Menke, Mildred, Mark, and Mary Jane Powers; great grandson Bryce Eschmann; adopted grandchildren and great grandchildren; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces; nephews; and cousins.

Millie is preceded in death by her parents Leroy A. & Mildred S. (nee Lindhorst) Mees Sr.; and brother Leroy A. Mees Jr.

Millie was the matriarch of her family devoting her life to ensuring that everyone felt loved and was well taken care of. This was shown best through several of her career choices as she began her career as a nurse taking care of others and later changed careers to take care of her younger children and to babysit for numerous families, adopting each of those children as her own. She was always so proud to tell everyone about her children, grandchildren, great grandchild and adopted grandchildren and great grandchildren. There was not a day that would go by that she did not tell each of them that she loved them and how proud she was of each of them. She often said, “My family is my legacy to show that I was once here. Part of me will always live in them.”

She was a devout Christian and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL. She devoted over thirty years to teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes. Millie loved teaching the children and was always happy to tell others about Jesus and to volunteer her time at the church.

She will forever be remembered for her kind, generous and loving spirit and will be dearly missed by all those who had the fortune of knowing her.

As an expression of sympathy the family prefers memorial contributions to:  Immanuel Lutheran Preschool or St. Jude's Research Hospital

Visitation:
    4 PM to 8 PM Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Quernheim Funeral Home
    12:30 PM until time of service Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church

Funeral:
    1:30 PM Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL
        Pastor Tony Troup and Pastor Brian Downs officiating
    Interment at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo, IL