Lois Lemke
Lois J. Lemke, 100, of Prairie du Chien, formerly of Racine, passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Prairie Maison.
She was born Sept. 20, 1921, in Lafayette, Ind., the daughter of Park and Alta (Butrum) Sheffer. She moved with her family to Racine when she was 2 years old and lived there until 2012. She graduated from Washington Park High School in 1939, worked 11 years at Western Publishing Co, and later as a retail clerk at Zahns and Lambertons. She married Floyd Lemke on Nov. 12, 1949, at the Grange Avenue Methodist Church (currently Christ UMC), where they were both active members throughout their lives. Lois enjoyed her participation in the UMW, Prayer Shawl ministry, Bible studies and adult choir. She and Floyd were members of the old Tanglefoot Dance Club, where they enjoyed dancing to big band music for decades. Lois was the last surviving member of Racine’s GIMPER Girls. The GIMPERS was a club of 20 young women who banded together in 1940 for friendship and remained loyal to and in touch with one another throughout their lives. Lois enjoyed family camping, cross stitching, bowling, ping pong, playing cards and was an avid reader.
Lois is survived by her two daughters, Rev. Lynn (Steve) Schreck, of Seneca, and Judy (Ronda Elias) Blank, of Coon Rapids, Minn.; her grandchildren, Curtis, Mark, and Scott; great-grandchildren, Athena and Cooper; and nephews and niece, Guy, Mike, Karen and Greg.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on Sept. 19, 2014; her brother, Claude, and sister, Lorraine; and grandson, Jonathon Blank.
The family is very grateful to the staff of Prairie Maison and Bluff Haven who cared for and embraced Lois as one of their own. There will be no visitation in Prairie du Chien. Friends are asked to remember the family in their prayers and honor Lois with a donation to the CHSC Foundation (Prairie du Chien) for the memorial garden and walkway.
Funeral services will be Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church with entombment in the West Lawn Memorial Park, both in Racine. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Community Health Services Foundation in Prairie du Chien.
