Funeral Notice: Roland A Menke

Roland Andrew Menke, age 94, died on August 4th, 2026 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine surrounded by his family. A Time of Gathering will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, August 10, 2026, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (104 1st St W, Jordan, MN 55352). Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM with additional gathering time from 10:00 – 10:45 AM on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (313 East Second Street, Jordan, MN 55352). Father Bryan Pedersen will preside. Roland will be laid to rest at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Jordan, MN. A reception will be held at Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be donated to the St. John’s Building Fund.

Roland was born on August 12th, 1931 to Joseph and Marie (Hennen). He was the oldest of 4 children. As a child, he enjoyed life on the farm where his strong work ethic developed. Roland’s education ended in 7th grade and passed all the 8th grade tests so he could help on the family farm, but his learning never ended. He enjoyed reading the daily paper, listening to the daily market, was brilliant at math and could remember things like no one else - birthdays and what the corn price was 10 years ago.

In 1952, Roland was drafted to the Korean War in which he spent his enlisted time in Korea as a power man. He and Catherine later went back to Korea with the revisit program.

One sunny summer day, Roland went to the Bendzick farm to ask Henry Bendzick permission to take Catherine (Bendzick) Streiff out on a date. The date must of went great as Roland and Catherine married in November of 1957. They first lived on the farm that Roland’s parents had but in 1960, Henry Bendzick (Catherine’s father) asked them to buy his farm. Roland and Catherine resided on that farm for over 50 years, raising 8 children; faith, family and farming were the pillars of Roland’s life. He and Catherine vowed on their wedding day to attend mass at church not just on Sundays, but every 1st Friday of the month in which he tried to carry out to his last days.

He was a very meticulous farmer excelling in agronomy. Milking cows with his sons and tending to his 6,000 chickens were things he enjoyed. He was so proud of his dairy cattle, and he often received awards on production and quality of his Grade A milk. Upon his semi-retirement he became an avid gardener in which he bestowed to generations of his family. Roland was known for his old timey, sometimes quirky sense of humor and “never look back too much” sense of optimism for good times to come. Roland served on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Valley Electric, was a member of the Jordan Honor Guard, was an active member of St John’s parish and the Knights of Columbus. In 2013 Roland and Catherine moved to town to enjoy a simpler life. They played cards almost daily and socialized with their good friends at Brentwood Court in Jordan.

Roland is survived by children, Carolyn (Terry) Sullivan, Marlene (Tom) Parkis, John (Lorene) Streiff, William (Juanita) Menke, Tom Menke, Joe Menke, Ann (Mark) Holzer, Allen (Sharon) Menke; grandchildren, Terry (Maureen) Sullivan, Kate (Bob) Morgan, John (Morgan) McCarthy, MaryPat (Jonathan) Osborne, Michael (Terri) McCarthy; Sarah (Steve) DeJournett, Michael Streiff, David (Cayla) Menke, Jill (Joey) Kaiyalethe, Rachel (Buck) Lester, Calvin Menke, Ryan (Val) Holzer, Justine (Ryan) Hagness, James Menke, Alissa (Ben) Fischer; great grandchildren, Ray Sullivan, Abby, Nathan & Emma Morgan, Maura Osborne, Aubrey McCarthy, Hailey (Marcus) Norris, Hannah (Mark) Dalman, Allyson Streiff, Tessa, Taylor & Tyson Menke, Ben, Sienna & Hazel Kaiyalethe, Cam & Delaney Holzer, Lanny & Dylan Hagness, Luka and Miles Fischer; brother, Mike (Rose) Menke, Sister-in-law Darlene Menke and many other family and friends.

Roland is preceded in death by his loving wife, Catherine; parents, Joseph and Marie Menke; and siblings, LeRoy Menke and Mary Ellen Watne.