Richard "Rick" Steven Lemker

Richard “Rick” Lemker was born in 1950 in Covington, KY, and as the oldest of 6 children immediately began to take charge of the family. His love of reading and learning was so powerful that “That’s it! Go outside!” was his standard punishment. He showed early academic prowess and attended Covington Latin School, where he skipped two grades and matriculated at Thomas More College at age 15.

As a physics major, he was was needled by the math club into helping proctor the annual high school math competition, where a high school senior, Mary Beth Middendorf, caught his eye. When she fortuitously enrolled at Thomas More College the next year, Rick wasted no time in his pursuit of the stunning Mary Beth. The two math nerds married in 1972 as Rick pursued masters degrees at University of Kentucky in physics and business administration.

His dual masters left him uniquely situated to excel with Corning, Inc, where he earned a patent and spent his entire working career. He traveled the world extensively in his various roles with the company and cultivated a deep love of diverse cultures and food.

His deepest source of both joy and angst were his 3 children and 11 grandchildren: Karyn (Rob) Ranzau, Erich (Jenny) Lemker, Jenny (Scott) Hickey, Jacob, Allie, Lilly, Katie(d), Penny, Caroline, Everett, Conrad, Clara, Marian, and Finnegan. Though often quite gruff, Rick’s inner playfulness shined with his grandkids, and he liked to joke that “I don’t know about the rest of you, but 3 year-olds love me!”

In his final days, his children reassured him “You have taken care of us all these years. It’s our turn to take care of you.” After a pause, he responded “I did a pretty good job, didn’t I? You all came out pretty great.”

Rick Lemker loved big. And we loved him back.

In lieu of flowers, which his practical nature would absolutely not tolerate, Rick’s dying wish is for donations to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

https://www.stjude.org/promotion/impact-giving-pm.html

Services will be Friday May 28 as follows.

Visitation:

1:00 pm Immaculate Conception

502 N 5th Avenue

La Grange, KY 40031

Mass:

2:30pm Immaculate Conception