William States Lemmer

William States Lemmer, Jr. (Bill), a 25+ year resident of Hermosa Beach, CA, passed away unexpectedly of heart failure on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and was 68 years old. His family and friends are devastated by the sudden and tragic loss.

The son of Marilee and William States Lemmer Senior, Bill lived many places as a child as his father’s career as a General Motors Executive took them to Downey, Whitter, and Fremont, California as well as Michigan and Oklahoma.

He attended several high schools and graduated from Wylie F. Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan. Bill received his Bachelor of Science, Psychology, from Eastern Michigan University and continued with his education graduating with his MBA from Oklahoma State University. He worked at General Motors in Finance, Human Resources and Manufacturing. He began a career in banking and worked his way through the ranks becoming a Vice President, Commercial Banking at Bank of America. Later he served as Senior Vice President Technology Banking at Comerica Bank and Senior Vice President Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking with Community Bank. Bill also enjoyed real estate investing and land lording throughout his lifetime and during his retirement.

A lively conversationalist with a wonderful sense of humor and a continual smile, Bill enjoyed life to the fullest with a wide circle of friends in the South Bay (the Goobers), and many friends and former professional colleagues in various states across the country.

All those who knew him appreciated his big smile, self-deprecating humor, sparkling wit and love of reminiscing about his life’s adventures. He loved watching sports and rooting for the Rams, Chargers, Lakers, Dodgers and attending USC football and basketball games, attending classic car shows, debating a variety of topics with friends, (especially the Goobers), being actively involved in civic activities benefitting the city of Hermosa Beach, and spending time with family.

He traveled to many places with his wife Shawn and daughter Samantha. They enjoyed going to Palm Springs, Temecula, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Hawaii, taking road trips across the country and to National Parks, a variety of cruises to Mexico and Alaska with the highlight of their travels being an amazing trip to Italy. He had some great trips with friends also to Mexico, Greece, Thailand/Cambodia and Costa Rica. He was a doting husband and father that loved to spoil his “girls.” A true “girl dad,” one of his biggest joys in life was taking his daughter, Samantha, to school throughout his retirement years.

Bill is survived by Shawn, his wife of 16 years, daughter, Samantha (15), mother-in-law, Shirley Miller, father-in-law Slade Spare, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Many years after the death of Marilee and Bill Senior, who had adopted Bill at birth, Bill sought out to find biological relatives. He found his biological father, Jim Hughes, and had many years of a relationship with him before his passing in 2015. He also located his biological mother, Suzanne Swartz, and four siblings, Ava, Lily, Peter and Timothy Swartz who are survived by him. He loved his relationships with them and enjoyed many wonderful visits creating happy memories.

He was also preceded in death by his sister, Heidi Lemmer McCaleb, and step- mother, Harriet Jane Lemmer. He is survived by Heidi's three children Ryan, Matthew and Lacey McCaleb.