Ruth Lemke

Ruth Belle Lemke was born August 21, 1916, the ninth child of Louis and Nellie (Whitney) Weis. Ruth was a very warm, loving, daughter, sister, mother and grandmother, and a devoted wife and friend. She graduated from Brooke Consolidated School in Peterson with many basketball awards and softball awards, which helped her get her nickname, Babe Ruth. After graduating, she took employment at J.C. Penny’s in Cherokee in Ladies ready to wear, and was eventually promoted to manager due to her obvious class for fashion and quiet grace. On July 7, 1946, she was united in marriage to Lloyd Lemke and they made their home in Holstein, where she became a very devoted wife and homemaker and the best mother any child could ever pray for. Ruth devoted her all to her family. In 1958 when Lloyd’s health failed and forced him out of the working world, Ruth went to work for Dr. James Martin. In 1972 Lloyd moved to the Good Samaritan Society, where Ruth continued to visit daily until his death in 1983. Five years later, Ruth’s brother Alfred came to live with her. When his health became too much for her to care for alone, he also went to the Good Samaritan Society until his death. In 1974 she began selling Electrolux vacuums, so she became known in the area as the vacuum cleaner lady. She went above and beyond for her customers and won many awards until her retirement at age 80. Ruth continued to devote her life and time to others, always willing to lend a helping hand or ear if someone needed to talk. She was a great listener. Her beauty and grace was from the inside out. She was always worried about her daughter, Joleen. They shared an undying love for one another that was truly special. To the end, Joleen would call Ruth to let her know she had arrived back in Denison safely because she knew her mother wouldn’t rest until she called. Ruth loved her pets, Ginger, Snapper and Buster, the outdoors and sitting on her front porch at 110 Cleveland. Everyone was welcome to sit and chat or come in for a cup of coffee and always a cookie or something she had baked. She missed her home and front porch after moving into Char-Mac on December 27, 2005, but that spring Joleen bought a couple of comfortable outdoor chairs for her to sit on the back patio and watch the golfers. The family teased her about flirting with the golfers and she would just smile. Ruth loved going to her grandson’s ball games, talking sports with them, going fishing, taking them to Children’s Day, and spoiling them as grandmas do. Ruth loved sweet corn, she looked forward to the season each year. That’s all that she would want to eat, only corn on the cob! She will be missed by so many with her kind ways. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband; her parents and nine siblings. She is survived by one devoted daughter, Joleen Grau of Denison and her special friend, Mark DeWit of Holstein; her grandsons, Joel Grau and special friend, Abbey Clark of Des Moines, IA, Jason Grau and wife Amber; great-grandchildren, Madeline Lily Grau, Evelyn Ruth Grau, and Gavin Bennet Grau of Overland Park, KS; one brother, Robert (Hoot) Weis of Esterville; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be dearly missed!