Pulaski-Madison County IL Archives Obituaries.....Mench, Jacob Christian July 26, 1941 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarch.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarch.org/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sally Emerson 4dicknsallye@aceweb.com April 2, 2008, 5:26 am CAIRO EVENING CITIZEN, July 27, 1941 SCHEDULE MENCH FUNERAL SUNDAY AT MOUNDS CHURCH Jacob Christian Mench passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Percy Hunt, in Mounds, Friday at 1:42 p.m. The funeral will be held Sunday evening at the Congregational Church. On October 3, 1910, Mr. Mench and his wife and children moved to Mounds from Alton. He had accepted the secretaryship of the Railroad Y.M.C.A. Under his leadership the "Y" gained in membershipl to over 1200, the highest railroad YMCA membership in the United States. in one year 137,020, men used the building as a temporary home. Mr. Mench often called on as guest speaker at the YMCA National Conventions. To attend those meetings he traveled extensively. ORGANIZED GATHERINGS As YMCA secretary he organized the noon hour religious gathering which over 200 men daily attended. He accompanied the men who were ill to the railroad hospital and made arrangements for their families. He sponsored the HEY Boys of Pulaski and Alexander Counties in their trips to the district and state conventions. The Flying Squadron of railroad men who went out to hold services was also organized through his efforts. At the time of the World War the Illinois Central Railroad stopped at the troop trains in Mounds, arriving at all hours of the night. Mr. Mench would board the train and go to the next terminal to give aid, comfort and cheer to the boys en route to the government camps and foreign service. VISITED THE SICK He visited the sick and persons in trouble and was considered one of the greatest humanitarians in Southern Illinois. Because of the removal of the I.C. yards from Mounds the "Y" closed January 1, 1933. Mr. and Mrs. Mench, because of failing health, went to Texas to reside and it was there that Mrs. Mench died July 3, 1937. Since her death Mr. Mench had made his home with his three children. Mr. Mench was born and reared in Bridgeton, NJ. He began elementary school, but at the age of 10 was earning his own living in a glass factory as a water boy. He became a professional blower at age of 18. At 21 he transferred to Baltimore and from there to Alton where he met Miss Mary Jane Logan. They were married in that city July 5, 1899. SURVIVED BY THREE He is survived by three children, Edith Virginia Hunt of Mounds, James Logan Mench of Cairo and Charles Russell Mench of Butte, Montana; three grandchildren, Helen Clair Hunt of Mounds, Frederick Mench of Washington, D.C., and Susan Lee Mench of Butte. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Mounds and also the Trinity Lodge of Mound City and the Eastern Star. Rev. S. C. Benninger, assisted by Rev. J. Rue Reid, will officiate at the funeral services. The Central Railroad Conductors quartet will be in charge of the music. A tribute will be made to Mr. Mench Sunday when all the churches of the city hold memorial services in hs honor at their regular worship hour. The cortege will leave Mounds by motor early Monday morning for Alton where burial will be made in the Alton Cemetery. Masonic rites will be conducted at the grave by Piaatt Lodge of that city. Active casket bearers will be members of the Masonic Lodge of which Mr. Mench was a member. Honorary casket bearers will be members of the board of the YMCA at the time of closing, G. E. Chance, Luther Hodge, E. G. Britton, Sam Shifley, J. A.Childress, Charles Austin, Sr., and Fayette Blancett, now of Memphis. J. T. Ryan Funeral Service in charge of arrangments. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/pulaski/obits/m/mench834nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb