Marlo Lemke - Hendricks, Minnesota

July 17, 1935 - Oct. 14, 2019

Posted

Marlo Lemke, age 84, of Hendricks, MN and formerly of Toronto, passed away on October 14, 2019, at the Hendricks Nursing Home.  

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Leganger Lutheran Church in Toronto.  Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at Leganger Lutheran Church and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be at the Toronto City Cemetery.  Houseman Funeral Home-Birk Chapel of Hendricks is entrusted with the arrangements.

Marlo Leroy Lemke was born on July 17, 1935, in Altamont, SD to Edward and Alta (Struss) Lemke. He attended school in Altamont and worked on his father’s farm. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 19, 1953 and attended bootcamp at Ft. Campbell, KY. Marlo attended Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA and parachute packing school at Ft. Lee, VA. 

He was permanently assigned to the Quartermaster Company, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 21, 1956, and distinguished himself by achieving the Senior Parachutist badge recording over 300 parachute jumps during his military service. 

Marlo married Sylvia Johnson on Jan. 17, 1959, in Astoria. They made their home in Toronto, where Marlo and Sylvia raised five kids: Tammy, Cheryl, Bradley, Ricky and Mitzi. He worked for Thompson Bros. Inc. as a truck driver and later in the office where he was a dispatcher for mail and liquid propane until his retirement 42 years later.

Marlo enjoyed the simple things in life. He golfed league in Hendricks and he also collected logo golf balls totaling right around the 5,800 mark. He also bowled league in Clear Lake and in Ivanhoe, pheasant hunting and fishing from his pontoon boat. 

But mostly he enjoyed playing Pinochle with his friends on Saturday afternoons and spending time with his grandkids and great grandkids. He was a dedicated Twins fan and in his later years never missed a game if it was televised. 

Marlo is survived by his wife Sylvia who resides in Hendricks, MN; three daughters: Tammy (Galen) Jorgensen, Bellingham, MN, Cheryl (Zeb) Bartels, Lake Benton, MN, Mitzi (Mark) Skorczewski, Hendricks, MN; two sons: Bradley (Monica) Lemke, Forney, TX and Ricky (Andrea) Lemke, Aurora; 10 grandkids: Mike Kluckman, Toni (Blake) Schipper, Kendra (Aaron) Moravetz, Brady (Holly) Mellendorf, Amanda (Justin) Beer, Jami Weis, Brooke (Kyle) Linneman, Samantha, Savanah and Sophia Lemke; 15 great grandkids: Donavon and Levi Thompson, Dylan and Jake Schipper, Kinlee and Aaden Moravetz, Brock, Benjamin and Blake Mellendorf, Kinsley and Jaxton Beer, Kayden and Logan Weis and Isabelle Linneman; one sister, Marcile Djonne, Clear Lake; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Alta; two brothers: Clayton and Harlan; and sister, Junice McKee.