WILMINGTON — Ryan Michael Menke, 18, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, N.C. Born on Sept. 25, 1998, he was the son of Michael Ray Menke and Victoria (Stojan) West.
Ryan was very adventurous and enjoyed trying new things. He loved football and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. Ryan and Dana were on the path to starting their life together, as they had recently moved to Charlotte and started their family with a new puppy, appropriately named Charlotte. Ryan’s immediate plans were to support Dana while she pursued her degree while he had future plans to attend a type of trade school.
Ryan is survived by his father, Michael R. Menke and stepmother, Judy Menke of Wilmington, N.C.; mother, Victoria (Stojan) West of Mannsville, N.Y.; brother, Kyle Menke of Wilmington; sister, Tabitha (Menke) Fleener, and her husband, Gabe, of Bicknell, Ind.; stepsister, Stephanie (Holmes) Sturgeon, and her husband, Scott, of Bruceville, Ind.; nieces and nephews, Bristol and Brody Fleener and Brooklyn, Jersey and Bronx Sturgeon; grandmother, Peggy Longamore of Largo, Fla.; uncles, Mark Menke of Bicknell, Ind., and Edward Stojan of Largo, Fla.; aunts, Melaina (Menke) Ripley, and her husband, Christopher, of Evansville, Ind., Elizabeth Slade of Mannsville, N.Y., and Marie Elliott of Utica, N.Y.; honorary aunt and uncle, Mark and Teresa Brighter of Sanford, N.C.; honorary grandfather, Charles Cone of Bicknell, Ind.; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ronald R. and Loretta (Bedell) Menke of Bicknell, Ind.; and uncles, Mitchell Menke of Berlin, Germany, and Donald Longamore of Watertown, N.Y.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 S. College Road, Wilmington. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, with the Rev. Mark Tippett officiating. There will be a time of fellowship and food where we can honor and remember them together from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Ryan Michael Menke Memorial Fund to help cover funeral expenses.