Jerome Lemke

Jerome Donald Lemke passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack on Monday, December 14, 2009. Jerry was born on May 16, 1948 to Donald and Iris (Bergeron) Lemke. He was raised in Jim Falls, Wisconsin, and graduated from Chippewa Falls Senior High School in 1966. Jerry served in the US Army in Vietnam and was a proud member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

He married Susan DuVall in1970 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. They had four children together, and later divorced. Jerry married Gloria (Metcalf) on September 22, 1989, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. They lived in Bloomer, Wisconsin, until the time of his death.

After serving in Vietnam, Jerry settled in Jim Falls, Wisconsin, and later moved to Bloomer, Wisconsin. He owned and operated a lumberyard in Jim Falls for many years. He spent several years building houses, and was very proud of the countless wood basements he constructed for area families. Try as you might, you were not going to convince Jerry that concrete was the way to go, and he would offer to dig up a wood basement he built thirty years earlier to prove his point. Although he was technically "retired," Jerry spent the last several years drawing blueprints for people building new homes.

Perhaps his greatest "job," however, was his music. He was a proud member of the Jim Creek Boys Band in the 1980's. After taking a professional hiatus (with the exception of pulling out his banjo on request), he and Gloria started Lemke's Little Band several years ago. Together with bandmember, Gary Spaeth, they entertained the masses at locations such as TP Resort in Birchwood, Mornings Corner and Transport Bars in Bloomer, and T & C Roundabout in Chippewa, to name a few. The night before he died, Lemke's Little Band gave a wonderful curtain call at T & C. Many of his family members and friends came out to witness what they didn't know at the time would be his final show.

Jerry and Gloria also spent a lot of time at their camper in Birchwood, Wisconsin. They stumbled upon the TP Resort in the early 1980's and made fast friends with Bill and Jan Lode. Before long, Jerry and Gloria were spending every available summer day at their camper--fishing with family and friends, entertaining on their deck, and having--hands down--the best fish fry around. Many wonderful friends were made in Birchwood--which was definitely Jerry's second home.
Jerry loved life. Anyone who was lucky enough to meet him (and that is a LOT of people) know that he did his best to make every day a party. He loved his wife, and was so happy to be able to spend time with her doing what they both loved. He loved his children and his grandchildren...who in turn adored their "Bumpa." He loved fishing, drinking beer, and just hanging out with his many, many best friends. A favorite statement of Jerry's was, "It doesn't get any better than this!" He was a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan and, it has to be said, a Brett Favre fan 'til the day he died. As of late he took to hiding out and cheering for Brett--saying, "I'm not cheering for the Vikings, I'm cheering for Brett." He was definitely NOT a Ted Thompson fan, and he made sure everyone knew it.

Jerry will be sadly missed by all who loved him, and his legacy will continue with the help of a smile, a beer, and a little Johnny Cash.

Jerry is survived by his wife and best friend, Gloria of Bloomer. He is also survived by his mother, Iris Lemke, of Chippewa Falls; four children, Holly (Lee) Hakes, Marty Lemke, Kerry (Matt) Kelm, all of Chippewa Falls, and Benjamin (Rhonda) Lemke, of Colfax; three stepdaughters, Tracy (Kevin) Mathieus of Portage, Heidi Henderson of Bloomer and Nikki (Chuck) Rieckmann of Montello; five brothers (and some "favorite" sisters-in-law), Tom (Denise) Lemke, Dick (Chris) Lemke, Donnie (Karen) Lemke, Randy Lemke, and Joe Lemke; eleven grandchildren, Taylor, Iris, Ava, Bryer, Brylee, Sam, Nora, Dylan, Nicholas, Riley and Avery; numerous other brothers and sisters in law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends. He is further survived by his father, Charlie (Delores) Morning of Bloomer.

Jerry was preceded in death by his grandparents, and by his father, Donald Lemke, in 1996.

A celebration of Jerry's life (in true Jerry style) will be held on Thursday, December 17th at the Pines Ballroom in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. and continue until the time of the funeral, which will be held at 7:00 p.m. In keeping with his wishes, Jerry will be cremated, and his family will scatter his ashes this summer at his favorite fishing hole, "Bobber Bay," on Big Lake Chetac in Birchwood, Wisconsin.