Gary Kai Lemke

Gary Kai Lemke Richland Gary Kai Lemke, age 64, of Richland, MI, died unexpectedly Monday morning, October 4, 2010. Gary was born on August 13, 1946 in Indianapolis, IN and was the son of Adolph B. and Gerda J. (Sorenson) Lemke. He moved to the Detroit area as an infant and to the Kalamazoo area in 1964. Gary was a 1964 graduate of Mackenzie High School, Detroit, and received his BA in Marketing and Business Administration and his MA in Counseling and Student Personnel from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Gary was a business teacher and football coach for Paw Paw High School from 1969 thru 1972. He then became employed at Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, MI, retiring in 2003 after 31 years of faithful service as the Dean of Continuing Education. Gary was awarded the National Person of the Year for the National Council on Community Services and Continuing Education; Outstanding Service Award recipient for the Michigan Community College Community Services Association; President of the National Council of Community Service and Continuing Education at KCC; President of the Michigan Community College Community Service Association at KCC, and published 5 articles in the Community Service Catalyst and the Community Education Journal. His passion was football, both college and the professional level, especially the Detroit Lions. Gary was a spectator at all of his children's sporting events and he thoroughly enjoyed taking them tubing, skiing and fishing on Sherman Lake, where he lived for 32 years. He loved hummingbirds, his flowers, gardening, and his tomato plants. Surviving are his two daughters, Jennifer "Jenny" M. (Bill) Bates of Richland and Michelle N. Lemke of Chicago, IL; his son, Christopher K. "Chris" Lemke of Richland; two granddaughters, Ashley N. and Alicia M. Bates; and his sister, Gail Silcock of Troy, MI; and three nieces. Gary was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation with the family will be from noon until 1:00 pm on Friday, October 8th at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D. Avenue. The memorial service to celebrate Gary's life will be held immediately afterwards, at 1:00. A continuation of Gary's life celebration will follow at the Blackhawk Bar & Grill, 8940 East 32nd Street, Richland at 2:30 PM on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gary's honor may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 3940 Broadmoor Avenue, SE, Suite 100, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com