Deacon Jean R. Moenk, a retired deacon who had served at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Atlanta, and most recently at St. Matthew Church in Tyrone, died Oct. 11 after suffering a stroke. He was 88.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Deacon Moenk was born on June 17, 1918. He attended John Carroll University in Cleveland and did graduate work at Case Western Reserve University where he completed all requirements for a doctorate in history.

He taught history at several universities, including John Carroll, the University of Maryland, and the College of William and Mary in Virginia. In 1950, he became a historian for the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany for nine years before moving to Virginia to serve as the deputy historian for the Continental Army Command from 1962-1973.

In 1973, Deacon Moenk moved to Atlanta to serve as chief historian for the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) based at Fort McPherson. He retired in 1988.

In May 1987 he was ordained to the permanent diaconate and retired from active ministry in 2004.

He and his wife of 61 years, Rita, had four children.

A funeral Mass for Deacon Moenk was celebrated at St. Matthew on Oct. 16.