Gene Lavona Lemke

A light has left our presence, as Gene Lavona Lemke, age 93, passed from this life at her home near Visalia on July 2, 2026. Born east of Visalia on June 8, 1933 to Victor Clair and Gertrude Mary Margaret (Wortman) Lewis, she attended the Deep Creek Elementary School and later Visalia Union High School. Summers were often spent with family in the nearby Sierra mountains, where her great-grandfather Dave Wortman operated a sawmill. Those were not endless summers of fun and games though as even kids were expected to help around camp, from setting chokers when they were old enough to gathering firewood for the cook stove, their mother being the cook for the logging crew. As the two youngest Gene and brother Jim escaped some of the chores for a while and instead got to experience an occasional adventure, such as riding on top of the logs as their grandfather Clyde drove the logging truck down out of the mountains! Gene recounted other memories such as swimming in the Whitaker Pool, even having to break the ice on it to do so early in the season. She also never forgot her mother’s stern warning to all four of the kids to “watch out for rattlesnakes!”, as those were plentiful in the area.

As a youth Gene was in 4-H and was also a member of the Farmersville Juvenile Grange, in which she was conferred with the First Degree in 1946. Like many young girls she loved horses, became a charter member of the 940 Saddle Club, and in 1948 ran for Visalia Rodeo Sweetheart, as did her older sister Gertrude. There were 19 candidates in all for the title and as part of the competition each was asked what her plans were for the future. Gene said she would like to be an artist. In the end neither Gene nor Gertrude were selected, but shortly thereafter another opportunity came to Gene, and in 1949 she was selected as Miss Visalia! As such she adorned the famous and award-winning Peacock Float. This float with Gene atop was even pictured in an issue of Life Magazine and in issues of the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner newspapers, and appeared in parades both in Tulare County and as far away as Bakersfield and San Francisco.

In 1972 she married the love of her life, Dennis Lemke, with whom she shared over 54 years of the ups and downs of life. For many years she assisted Dennis in running a cabinet door shop, and many houses both near and far sport some of their custom work. While they had no children, Gene had four children from previous marriages.

Gene was always a hard worker, loved spending time with family, and showed what courage and tenacity were when faced with a serious health crisis in her later life. Her sweet smile could light up a room, and will be sorely missed.

She was preceded in death by parents Victor and Gertrude Lewis, sister Gertrude (and John) Fly, brother Victor (and Wilma) Lewis, brother James (and Peggy) Lewis, daughter Tarrie Lynn Johnson, and grandson David Turner.

She is survived by husband Dennis Lemke of Visalia, sister Lorene (John) Clark of Exeter, daughter Marilyn Thompson of Visalia, son Bryon ( Brenda) Boswell of Placerville, son James (Julie) Pinyan of Gerber, CA, 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at the Visalia Cemetery, 1300 West Goshen Ave., Visalia, at 9:00am on Friday, July 17. Reception will follow at the Exeter Veteran’s Memorial Building, 324 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter.