Justine Lorraine Lemke

Justine L. Lemke left her family October 5th, 2013. In celebration of her life, the family invites you to join them at the Yuma County Fairgrounds beverage garden Thursday, October 10th at 10 a.m. Come casual wearing her favorite patriotic colors: red, white, and blue. A viewing will be held Wednesday, October 9th from 5-7pm, at Johnson’s Mortuary.

Justine was born in Fullerton, CA, March 19th 1922, to Hazel and Walter Smalley. She had one sister, Hazel, ten years older.

She went through the Fullerton schools including Fullerton Junior College and then on to Whittier College where she received her BA degree and her teaching credential in June 1942. She met Bud Lemke in 1939 and they were married at the Fullerton Methodist Church on July 25, 1942.

She started teaching in El Monte, CA. where her salary was $1,320 per year but she got an extra $100 because the war was on. Their son, Larry, was then born in 1944. She was a stay-at-home Mom- but not for long. In 1949, Janice was born and they bought a brand new house and she went back to teaching.

In 1952 Bud won a Veteran’s Homestead in Yuma. When school was out, Larry, Janice, and all transplanted to Yuma from Fullerton. In 1953, she started teaching at San Pasqual. Their daughter, Susan, was born in 1956 and there hasn’t been a dull moment since.

In 1956, they built a very nice home on the Homestead property. In three weeks time, their new beautiful home burnt to the ground due to an electrical fire. Nearby neighbors helped save quite a bit of the furniture and Pete, the parakeet, but all that was left of the house and garage was the cement slab and the baked adobe bricks, baked a little more. Their wonderful Homestead friends came with their trucks, tractors, trailers, and manpower and the ladies with food to sustain them. They rebuilt and lived there very happily until 1969 when they moved across the street from Kofa High School.

Of course, the Yuma Mesa Homemakers Club means a great deal to her. It was a group of homesteader wives who formed the club in 1949. They were just like family. Remember the famous “pie” booth at the Yuma County Fair? They published a book about their homestead years and experiences.

All three kids were very involved in 4-H, graduated from Kofa and went on to graduate from the University of Arizona. All of them have succeeded in their chosen professions. Larry and his wife, Katie, live in Salinas. Janice and her husband, David Shelton, live in Parker. Susie and her husband, Jodie King, live here in Yuma. Besides her three children she is very proud of her six grandchildren (Scott, Chris, Laura, Joey, Tara, and Justin) and five great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

She retired with over 25 years teaching in 1978. She kept herself busy with a wonderful P.E.O. Chapter Q, Assistance league of Yuma, volunteered for 25 years at the Yuma Regional Medical Center, and was also a proud member of the Yuma County Republican Women’s Club.

Justine and Bud were very active in 4-H and had been for about 60 years. Many of these years they were Community Club Leaders but most recently on the 4-H BBQ Committee. People knew they could find Justine in the grand stands watching her kids and grandkids show their animals at the Yuma County Fair. She was really looking forward to the momentous Arizona 4-H Centennial Celebration coming up on October 12th. We can guarantee she will be there in spirit, and some of her family will be there representing her.

Justine loved sports and traveling. Kofa was always #1 but, U of A was a close second. She was fortunate enough to travel the world with Bud or great friends and family.

Justine and Bud were married just shy of 70 years in 2012 and are now reunited.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Yuma County 4-H or “Operation School Bell” through Assistance League of Yuma.