Ida Eliza Albertina (Schwanke) Menke was born to her loving parents Christian Friedrich and Marie Albertina (Metschke) Schwanke on Saturday May 11, 1907. The 1910 census shows her as being born at Colfax County Stanton Township Nebraska. Ida was raised on a rural Platte County farm south southwest of Leigh with a GPS of 41.654460, -97.272033. Ida was born with twin sister Emma, Ida being the older of the two. Ida had five older brothers, one younger brother, and two younger sisters which includes her twin sister Emma. There were actually eleven children, since it is believed her mother's first children were a set of twin girls. The girls died at birth, sadly there are no records of the twin's names nor where they were interred. On September 8th 1927 while residing with her older brother Henry on a farm south of Scribner, Dodge County, Ida lost all her personal belongings. The front page article of the fire is posted in two photos on this memorial. Ida was united in marriage to Willie Menke on Friday February 20, 1931. Ida and Willie were blessed with two sons and four daughters. They raised their children on a farm near Platte Center, Platte County north northwest of Columbus with a GPS of the farm place 41.522078, -97.400290. There was a very unique driveway into their farm place. It curved and banked as you drove in. Willie always said the curves and the banks helped the winter snow blow right off the roadbed. Ida was a good and caring mother. As a typical farm lady, she was able to balance raising the children while assisting with the farm chores. Ida loved canning. We had many great family gatherings, Ida always prepared a very tasty meal for all of us in her farm kitchen. Ida and Willie retired into the City of Columbus in their later years. I recall visiting their Columbus home with my father when I was home on leave from the Air Force. Ida being a good hostess fixed a sandwich and served a bowl of her canned fruit right before it was time for us to leave. Sadly Ida passed at the Columbus Nursing Center on Monday May 26, 1986 at the age of 79 years, 15 days which does not include her last day, she lived a total of 28,870 days. Ida and Willie were happily married for 55 years, 3 months, 6 days. Interment was in the Shell Creek Baptist Cemetery Platte Center. Ida's information was provided from researching many resources and my memory. This biography was created as an honor to Ida by her nephew Loren R. I believe all lives matter, even the lives of those who have passed. Many details are still missing from her life, if you have any more details I will be happy to edit the additional information into this biography. Please send your info to me at my email address [email protected]

Ida's Grandson: Virgil Voigt
Ida's Son-n-law: Edwin Voigt
Ida's Son-n-law: Ray Hauser
Ida's Son-n-law: Dale Durkop
Ida's Daughter-n-law: Judy Menke

CREDITS: The Scribner Rustler, familysearch.org (M7LK-S2Y), Google Map, timeanddate.com, Don, daughters Luella and Ruth.
Revised: 05/26/2021