Special Agent Bernard H. Menker

Bernard Menker was my Grandfather; however, I never knew him. He was the father of my father. Bernard died when my father, Lee, was only nine months old. As a result of his death, my father and his brothers and one sister were placed in an orphanage because my grandmother could not afford to raise them. My Grandfather and grandmother were childhood sweethearts, growing up one block apart. They attended St. John Nepomuk church at 11th and Lafayette. He would have been proud of how his children turned out - all became fine citizens. I would have loved to have known my Grandfather, sit and talk with him, to know about his life. I joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and retired after 20 years of service (1972 to 1992) as a Detective in the Bomb and Arson Section.

Det. Gary Knight (ret)
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

August 22, 2020