Randy Menkes, 55, of St. Mary's, Georgia and formerly of LaPorte, Indiana, died on November 27, 2004 in Brunswick Hospital, Brunswick, GA.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2005 at Cutler Funeral Home with Rev. Freeman Schrock officiating. Visitation is Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of services.
Randy was born September 5, 1949, in LaPorte to George R. & Myrtle (Opfel) Menkes, Sr. On August 5, 1972, he married Tamera, who survives.
Survivors also include son, Matthew Menkes of St. Mary's; mother, Myrtle of Gaylord, MI; sister, Susan (Bruce) Simonson of Yakima, WA; brother, Michael (Kathy) Menkes of Gaylord, MI; and numerous nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents, Roy & Lucille Opfel and Arnold & Willmette Menkes.
Randy had worked at Fasteners, Inc. which became Performance Engineered Products and had been director of the LaPorte City Recycling Center.
From 1973-1989 he was a member of the LP Jaycees, serving in numerous positions, including Parade Chairman, 4th of July Chairman, Community VP, president, newsletter Publisher, pitcher for the softball team, ambassador for the Indiana JC & West Indies Exchange program, Convention Club President,
Haunted House Chairman, participated in the Deserving Children Project at Christmas, and he was a JCI Senator, the highest honor within the Jaycees which grants lifetime membership. He was active at district, regional & state levels of the Indiana Jaycees.
He was a member of the LP Area Juvenile Aid Association, the LP County Tourism Bureau, the LP Elks, and the LaPorte County Leadership Program. He was an active member of the LaPorte Swedenborgian Church, serving as treasurer. He had served as co-chairman of the Michigan City Taste of the Nation for several years.
He had worked on the mayoral campaign for Elmo Gonzalez. He was a 1968 LaPorte High School graduate and a 1972 graduate of Indiana University.
He relocated to Georgia in 1998, where he was a member of the Kiwanis Club and attended the First Presbyterian Church. He reported for the local Camden Courier and was a representative on the Sugarmill Homeowner's Association Board of Directors.
He was instrumental in setting up the George R. Menkes, Sr. Nature Preserve in which the land was donated by the Menkes family.
Memorials may be made to the LaPorte County Park Foundation.