Obit: Lemke, Rudolph H. Sr. (1922 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bartelt, Dahl, Evans, Graumann, Hoeft, Kraemer, Krueger, Lemke, Peche, Risch, Vetterkind, Yench

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 3/11/2015

Lemke, Rudolph H. Sr. (25 MAR 1922 - 7 MAR 2015)

Rudolph H. Lemke Sr., 92, Medford, died on Saturday, March 7 at Aspirus Care and Rehab in Medford, under the care of Hope Hospice.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 12 at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medford, with Rev. James Krueger officiating. Interment will be at Medford Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers are Christopher Risch, Charles Hoeft, Theodore Peche, Adam Lemke, Alex Lemke and Kevin Vetterkind.

Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake assisted the family with arrangements.

Rudolph Lemke was born on March 25, 1922 in the town of Goodrich to the late Benjamin and Alma (Bartelt) Lemke. He completed the eighth grade at Washington School in Goodrich, and attending Medford High School.

On June 23, 1948 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rib Lake, he married Gertrude Martha (Graumann) Lemke, who preceded him in death in 2004. Rudolph truly was a jack of all trades. Soon after marrying Gertrude, he owned a sawmill in Holcombe for a period of time, then moved to Goodrich and began farming. While farming in Goodrich he also ran a small sawmill and went from farm to farm doing custom chopping. He helped construct the gas pipeline that ran from Ladysmith to Rib Lake. He also helped build St.Andrew's Lutheran Church in Goodrich in 1962. He then started logging and logged until the age of 87.

He was a member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church for over 30 years, was president of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Goodrich until 1973, and was a member of the Washington School Board. His favorite time of year was deer season. He enjoyed going dancing with his wife and playing sheepshead with his friends on Friday night. He also enjoyed taking his children fishing as they were growing up. Very rarely did he ever hire someone to fix something for him, he did all of his projects on his own, including remodeling his home. Rudolph's faith was extremely important to him and he never missed a Sunday in church.

Survivors include his children, Fay (Paul) Risch of Abbotsford, Rudy Lemke Jr. of Medford, Joyce (Angelo) Hoeft of Athens, Judy (Gary) Peche of Medford, Erhardt (Catherine) Lemke of Medford and Corless Lemke of Medford; nine grandchildren, Christopher (Jenni) Risch, Carrie (Mike) Risch, Charles Hoeft, Elizabeth Evans, Sara (Kevin) Vetterkind, Theodore Peche, Adam (Ashley) Lemke, Alex (Mandy) Lemke and Cassie (Jeff) Kraemer; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Guenther Lemke, and five siblings, Adeline Yench, Alfred Lemke, Albin Lemke, Almira Dahl and Loretta Lemke.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church or School.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.