February 13, 1995 - January 22, 2025

Ikse Jenna Mennen, age 29, died 22 January 2025 peacefully in the presence of loved ones. Originally from Sunnyvale, California, Ikse called many places home, including northern Minnesota and the deserts of Southern California. Ikse attended UW-Madison for linguistics and Scandinavian studies, Minnesota State at Mankato for a master's in history, and was a Wilderness EMT. Ikse was most at home canoeing, climbing, hiking, and helping others do the same. Through their work at Concordia Language Villages-Les Voyageurs (Bemidji, MN) and High Trails Outdoor Science School (Big Bear, CA), Ikse imbued many students with their infectious love of adventure. They continued to enjoy these activities – as well as ultimate frisbee, acroyoga, and writing a novel – throughout their two-year journey with metastatic sarcoma.

Ikse is survived by mother Susan Hough, father Paul Mennen, brother Alex Mennen (Isabel Juniewicz), and many beloved friends and chosen family.

A Celebration of Life is planned for 2:00 pm Sunday, March 9th at the First Unitarian Society (900 Mt Curve Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403), with refreshments to follow. Please be aware of Daylight Savings Time starting that day, and street parking. We invite you to wear anything that reminds you of Ikse or makes you happy. The event will be livestreamed (more information to come).

If you would like to share a memory of Ikse to be read aloud at the service, please send it in a short email, subject line 'Memory of Ikse', to David Hough (davidhough@earthlink.net) by March 1st.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Cancer Research Institute, the Clean Air Task Force, the Clean Energy Innovation Program, the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, or the Ikse Mennen scholarship at Concordia Language Villages: https://tinyurl.com/rjx8nrrj

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/ikse-mennen/obituary/

Copy