Dorothy A. Lemke

Dorothy Amelia Lemke (nee Proeber) was born on April 27, 1927 in Caledonia, Wisconsin to Harold H. and Lena Proeber (nee Mahn). Dorothy's life was woven with love, family and faith.

Growing up in Caledonia, Dorothy received her education at Trinity Lutheran School and Edison School in Franksville through eighth grade. She later attended Cudahy Vocational School where she became proficient in the use of a comptometer, a mechanical forerunner to todays calculators. Her strong work ethic and dedication to her family was evident early on. Dorothy met her husband Lloyd J. Lemke while working in the sausage kitchen at Patrick Cudahy. This meeting would be the beginning of a lifelong partnership filled with love and devotion.

Dorothy's work life was varied and industrious reflecting her adaptability and spirit. She held positions the meat department at the Cudahy A&P Supermarket, the business department at Goldman's in Milwaukee, and later in shipping and receiving for Sears and Roebuck in Cudahy. Her talents extended beyond the workplace. She offered her sewing skills the the community, and volunteered making sewing repairs at The Lutheran Economy Store in Milwaukee. Her work with the Altar Guild at St. Paul's Lutheran Church underscored her commitment to helping others and her deep rooted faith. She would embroider doves on Baptismal Napkins and was regularly called upon to bring desserts to various fellowship activities.

Her skills with needle and thread were rivaled by her knitting and crocheting work. Dorothy kept her grandchildren well supplied with sweaters, and mittens of such construction that they are currently being used by her great grand children! She also made ginger cookies (with REAL bacon grease, a recipe hack she was very proud of) and would include them in boxes of Lutheran Thrift Store finds that she would ship to the grandkids. Gardening was another joy of hers. She would drive out to her mother's house several times a week to tend the the gardens and harvest the fruits of their labors.

She enjoyed traveling to new places, even though she didn't do it very often. She once told her son Lloyd, who then was a young Pastor, "It's time for you to take a call someplace else. We've seen everything where you are serving now!" A lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, Dorothy's faith was the guiding force in her life. Her family was her greatest pride and joy.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband Lloyd, her daughter Elaine, her parents and her siblings Harold Jr., Gilbert, Leslie, Franklin and Adeline. She will be lovingly remembered by her sons John, Pastor Lloyd (Janeen) and Edward (Sally), grandchildren Martin (Stef), Peter (Kristal), Aaron (Laura), Christopher (Andrea) and Stefani (Joe) Drass and twelve great grandchildren, Tristan, Julian, Layna, Royce, Arthur, Emmett, Piper, Zoet, Ezra, Elijah, Asher and Hadassah as well as many nephews and nieces.

Then I heard a voice from Heaven say "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelations 14:13


Elaine Linda Lemke
December 6, 1958 - March 16, 2025

Elaine was born to Lloyd and Dorothy Lemke on December 6, 1958 along with her twin brother John.

She attended St. Paul's Lutheran School from Kindergarten through eighth grade, graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran High School and received a teaching degree from Martin Luther College.

For many years Elaine was a teacher in Bangor Wisconsin. As an accomplished organist she played for church services and many weddings at St. Paul's. After teaching she soldered computer parts to motherboards for many different companies. Sadly neuropathy set end and brought both her work and organ playing to an end.

In her later years she required a walker to get around until she lost a leg below the knee causing her to be confined to a wheelchair to get around. Elaine had many Dr. appointments but always looked forward to trying a new restaurant after each appointment. John tried to make her life as normal as possible.

Growing up, Elaine was a "tomboy" and was always playing baseball or football with Ed and his friends at Pulaski Park. Her love of sports carried on through her life. The Bucks, Brewers and Packers were extremely important. There were always games playing on the tv.

Elaine always had a very special lifelong bond with her twin brother John. For many years Elaine, John and Dorothy lived together and supported each other.

The family would like to invite friends and loved ones to celebrate Dorothy and Elaine's lives and the legacies that they leave behind. Services will be held at St Paul's Lutheran Church located at 3776 E Cudahy Ave in Cudahy on September 1, 2026 at 6:30 followed by a light luncheon.