Mr. Lemke

Kempner resident James A. Lemke, 84, died June 28, 2008, in a Copperas Cove nursing home.

Graveside services are July 4 at 10 a.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen with full military honors.

Mr. Lemke was born Aug. 29, 1923, in LaCrosse, Wisc., to Albert P. and Alice Margaret Running Lemke.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. After his time in the service, he was sales manager for Clayton-Mark Well and Pump Supplies for 30 years and later for Mid-West Well and Pump Supply until his retirement in 1982. After that, he moved to Texas.

Survivors include two sons, James "Jimmy" Lemke, and wife, Shirley, of Liburn, Ga., and Thomas Lemke, and wife, Wanda, of Marietta, Ga.; three daughters, Kathy Lemke Fleeger, and husband, Robert, of Thomasville, N.C., Cathy Groothoff, and husband, Ron, of Kempner, and Jean Vance of Austin; two brothers, Howard Lemke, of Holmen, Wisc., and Anthony "Tony" Lemke, of Webster, N.Y.; and a sister, Mary Lemke Olson, of Sun City, Calif.

Other survivors include eight grandchildren, Chad Lemke and wife, Tasha, Matthew Lemke and wife, Heidi, David Lemke, Janet Lemke Haden, and husband, Jared, Brian Groothoff, Eric Groothoff, Robert Vance and Duane Vance; 14 great-grandchildren; a sister-inlaw, Odell Wilkinson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Jean Lemke and Shirley Lemke; a brother, Robert Lemke; and a grandson, Bryce L. Vance.

The family requested memorials be made to Heritage Hospice, 451 E. Central Texas Expressway, Harker Heights, TX 76548.

Arrangements by Crawford- Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove.