Sebastian Menke

Rev. Msgr. Sebastian G. Menke, Ph.D.
Born	December 21, 1910 St. Paul, Iowa
Died	April 21, 2002 (aged 91) Davenport, Iowa
Nationality	American
Known for	President of St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa

Sebastian G. Menke (December 21, 1910 – April 21, 2002) was a 20th-century Catholic priest in the United States who served as the tenth president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa from 1964 to 1973.

Biography

Early life and education

Menke was born and raised in St. Paul, Iowa. ^[1] He graduated from St. Ambrose in 1934, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport in St. Paul in 1938.

St. Ambrose College

Menke returned to St. Ambrose and taught Latin, German, Greek, ancient history and astronomy on campus. He then became rector for East Hall (Rohlman Hall).^[2] While he studied for his doctorate at the University of Iowa he served as chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Menke served as president during a time when struggles were high for private colleges. The Vietnam War was raging and there were protests against the war on campus. Dr. Edward Rogalski, who would eventually serve as the college's president, remembers, "He did a lot to help defuse the emotions. We would meet with students at any time of day and night. He even led a protest march here in Davenport — and that was a time when emotions were running very high."^[3] In 1964 he was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Paul VI, upon the nomination of Bishop Ralph Hayes.^[4] From 1970-1973 St. Ambrose and Marycrest College planned for a merger. They even chose a new name for the school, Newman College, before the effort was discontinued and both schools went their own way. During his presidency, South Hall (Cosgrove Hall), Hayes Hall, and Galvin Fine Arts Center were all constructed.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

After leaving the presidency Menke became the pastor and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served as a chairperson for one of the commissions during the diocesan synod in 1974. Msgr. Menke also chaired a board that was working on the consolidation of St. Luke’s and Mercy Hospitals in Davenport. Like the merger of the two colleges, the hospital merger did not happen either.^[5] He was involved in establishing the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area. El Centro Cultural Hispano, an organization that cared for the needs of the Spanish-speaking people of the Quad City area, was established at Sacred Heart in 1975. Two years later Mass in Spanish was added to the cathedral schedule.^[6] Msgr. Menke was instrumental in establishing a food pantry and a clothing center at the cathedral. He helped out at the Catholic Worker House and the East Side Development Center. He was involved with other social service agencies and racial matters.^[3]

Later life and death

In 1985 Msgr. Menke retired as the cathedral rector and took up residence at St. Mary’s Church in Iowa City. At the end of 1991 he left Iowa City and retired to St. Vincent Center in Davenport.^[7] He died in 2002 at the age of 91. Memorial Masses were held at Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose and Sacred Heart Cathedral. He donated his body to the Department of Anatomy at the University of Iowa, which was later buried in the Priests' Circle of Mount Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.^[8]

Legacy

The Menke Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by St. Ambrose University. It was named in honor of Msgr. Menke.^[3]

References

1. Schmidt, Madeleine M. (1981). Seasons of Growth: History of the Diocese of Davenport. Davenport, Iowa: Diocese of Davenport. p. 392.
2. "Past Presidents". St. Ambrose University. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
3. Nancy, Ruby. "Monsignor Menke's legacy will live on". Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
4. Schmidt, 353
5. Schmidt, 298
6. Schmidt, 293
7. Lalor, Francis R. (1993). Celebrating Thanks! A History of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa: St. Mary’s Parish.
8. "Sebastian Menke (obituary)". Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2010-07-19.