Vivian R. Lemke, 80, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars, Iowa. Funeral services will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2017 St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill, Iowa. Pastor Bert Burwell will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, 2017 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 4-7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral service on Monday.
Vivian Rose Lemke was born on May 16, 1937, on the family farm near Allen, Nebraska, the daughter of Walter and Ruth (Andersen) Hansen. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Vivian attended country school near her home and later graduated from Allen High School in 1954. After high school, she attended business school in Sioux City, majoring in secretarial work. Following graduation, Vivian took a position in the office at Sioux Steel.
On June 1, 1957, Vivian and Leland Foster Lemke were united in marriage at Martinsburg. They made their home on a farm near Merrill, Iowa. Along with homemaking, Vivian assisted her husband on the farm. In 1975, Vivian began driving a school bus for Le Mars Community Schools. She enjoyed her time spent with fellow drivers and the students. She drove for 30 years on various routes.
Vivian was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill where she participated in various activities. She was an avid quilter, reader, enjoyed playing cards, Bingo and socializing with her friends.
She is lovingly remembered by her son and his wife, Randal and Anita Lemke of Boyden, Iowa; two sisters, Arlene Patefield of Laurel, NE and Bernita Meyer of Wisner, NE; a brother, Kenneth Hansen of Allen, NE; three sisters-in-law, Helen Hansen of Coleridge, NE, Patricia Hansen of Dell Rapids, SD and Sharon Hanke of Soldotna, AK; a brother-in-law, Lewis Lemke of Sibley, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leland on April 12, 1995; father and mother-in-law, Louis and Leona (Albright) Lemke; brothers, Rodney and Maynard Hansen; sisters-in-law, Mary Hansen and Carol Lemke; brothers-in-law, Milo Patefield and Dale Hanke.
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