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Obituary for Carl Henry Lemke
Carl Henry Lemke, 85 of Adair, Iowa passed away November 12, 2018 at his home. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory - Stuart Chapel. Funeral Services will follow the visitation at 11:00 A.M, at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Dalmanutha Cemetery in rural Casey, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carl Lemke Memorial Fund and may be sent to Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Carl was born on June 25, 1933 to Herman and Edna Lemke at Bear Grove in Guthrie County, Iowa. He lived through the depression when times were tough, helping his father on the farm at a young age. He followed the horses ridding on the harrow and hand harvested, shucking and shelling corn by hand. He took two years of schooling before the age of five and completed the eighth grade before taking up his love of farming. On July 21, 1954 he married the love of his life Shirley Carol (Griffith) Lemke. Shortly thereafter he was drafted in to the Army and stationed in Colorado Springs, CO and Corpus Christi, TX. Following his service to his country Carl and Shirley moved their young family back to the farm in Guthrie County, Iowa. Together they raised a family of eight children, four boys and four girls: Roxane (Kevin) Power of Des Moines, Rosalie (John) Tunink of Des Moines, Debbie Jackson of Bethany, MO, Lenard (Susan) Lemke of Casey, Edward (Barb) Lemke of Fontanelle, Kyle (Jean Irlbeck) Lemke of Audubon, Chris Lemke of Adair and Carla Aldrich of Ankeny.
Carl loved his family and his farm. He had large hands (arthritic and bent) that held many children over the years, gave a swat when needed, and guided his children into adulthood with his high moral character and strong work ethic. Those same hands milked the cows, tossed hay bales and assisted many young colts, calves, baby goats and young peacocks in learning to survive. He lived a long, full, good, strong and clean life.
He fulfilled his duties as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and as a friend and neighbor. He fulfilled his moral obligations to the land, to his farm, to the animals that he has cared for and worked with, to his family and to his community.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Edna and Herman Lemke; infant brother; brothers, Donald and Veryl Lemke; sister: Laura Bard, Agnes French and Eileen Crabbs; and a beloved granddaughter, Emmah Aldrich. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; all eight of his children; 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
