Jack Louis Menges

Jack Louis Menges, 82, of Sedalia, MO, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia. He was born on August 19, 1940, in Wichita, KS, the son of Louis Henry Menges and Julia Ellen Hughes, who preceded him in death.

On June 6, 1968, in Decatur, IL., he was united in marriage to Susan Lynnette Menges, who resides in the home.

He enlisted in the United States Army and served our country honorably in the Vietnam War.

Jack was a lifelong learner, having completed High School at Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO, in 1958, an Associates Degree from a Community College, a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree, and was A.B.D. with a D.Phil. in Religion and Society all from Life Christian University, Tampa, Florida where he also served as Remote Faculty. Education was not as important to Jack as learning. He constantly sought knowledge. And when he attained it, he would teach and share it. He taught at every level of education post-High School, including Graduate School, Ph.D., and D.Phil. students throughout Missouri. He had a keen perspective on life, living, and serving. He was also an ordained minister of The Gospel and served most of his life in the Pastorate while running large, high-impact nonprofit organizations.

Along with loving his family and doing as much as he could to be there for them, Jack also had an entrepreneurial spirit when it came to finding ways to serve his community. Not only through businesses and churches BUT especially through nonprofit public charities. He was either founder, early incorporator, or early Board Member of many Pettis County and Central Missouri nonprofit organizations, including Missouri Valley Community Action Agency, Pettis County Community Partnership, Pettis County Health Department, Open Door Service Center, Putting Roofs Over People, Project Homeless Connect, Project Community Connect, Salvation Army, Pettis County United Way, Johnson County United Way, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, Servant's Open Door, Manna Harvest, Artful Askers, Still Waters International Ministries, Life Christian University and numerous others.

In the past five years, he and Sue were co-founders of the public charity called, "Heart of America ReDistribution Solutions and Support Services" which serves more than 375 nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches throughout 25 counties in the Central and Western Missouri region, empowering the organizations he served to meet needs of more than 25,000 individual clients in need each month. The advisory board and his family hope to keep his charity running in his memory.

Besides his wife, Jack is survived by a daughter, Lissa Brown; two stepsons, Keith Bartolazzi and wife Debbie, Peter Bartolazzi and wife Geralyn; grandchildren, Josey, Maximus, Elizabeth, David, Michael, Christopher, Shelley, Nicholas, Faith Ann, Christina, Peter, and Amanda; several great-grandchildren; siblings, Mary Alice, Kenny, Kathleen, Denny, Jody, and Jim, and many other loved ones.

Besides his parents, Jack is preceded in death by a stepson, Kevin Bartolazzi.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Abundant Harvest Worship Center, Sedalia, with pastors Tony Kroeger and Sam Hinkle officiating.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

The burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery following the service.

Honorary bearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heart of America ReDistribution Services and Solutions, 102 Tori Lane, Sedalia, MO 65301, in care of Rea Funeral Chapel.