Stephen J. Lemmers

Steve Lemmers, 91, unexpectedly left to meet and probably interrogate his maker on May 25, 2023. Steve was an intelligent, caring, and witty man. He loved people and loved life intensely.

He played basketball, football, baseball, and did track and field at Kimberly High School. He held the school pole vaulting record for many years after graduation. He attended and played football at Marquette University, Michigan State University, and the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations. He loved to ski and had plenty of opportunities to do so when he and Joan lived in Colorado. He served his country in the Army during the Korean War, interrupting his college years. After working for several other companies, he started his own advertising business in 1980 and enjoyed having the freedom to fish for part of the day and work for part of the day.

He was an expert angler and fished into his 80s. He had to paint his boat a different color on each side to confuse the other fisherman on Lake Winnebago who were looking for his favorite fishing spots.

Steve loved a good project and those who knew him will remember his ever ready supply of duct tape, hangers, nail polish, and masking tape to be deployed at a moment's notice to fix something.

He was a voracious reader, and he still read USA Today from cover to cover every day and completed the crossword puzzle diligently. He loved language and writing, and often composed haiku for special occasions. He was an excellent photographer and captured family pictures at gatherings in addition to his nature photography. 

Steve was born on February 6, 1932. He was the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Lamers) Lemmers.  He grew up in Kimberly, Wisconsin with his siblings Agnes, Ethel, Doris, Tom, Ron, and Leo. He married Joan (Busch) Lemmers on August 18, 1956 and they spent 42 years together until she passed away in 1998. They traveled to Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Portugal when he was working for a travel agency early in their marriage and enjoyed family vacations at Moshawquit Lake. He leaves behind his children Diane (Randy) Feldt, Jeanine Lemmers (Lloyd Waldron), and Luke (Tracie) Lemmers; grandchildren Alyson (Herpao Vang) Blom, Lizz (Nate) Wright, Kate Feldt, Anna Feldt, Ashley Stewart, Leah Lemmers, Emma Lemmers, and Logan Lemmers; great grandchildren Eamonn Wright, Ayden Vang, Lylliana Vang and Jozelyn Vang.

He found love again after Joan‘s death and married Betty (Knuppel) Lemmers on November 3, 2001. He leaves behind Lisa (Dean) Olejniczak, Jill (Tom) Goodsett, Keith (Aimee) Knuppel; grandchildren Hannah (Mason) Ballweg, Ross Olejniczak, Morgan Hanzel, Maddie Hanzel, Sawyer Knuppel, and Chloe Knuppel. 

Steve lived at Hart Park Square in Wauwatosa for the last few years and leaves behind many friends on the staff and among the residents. Special thanks to the resident assistants and receptionists for their tender loving care of Steve. He will also be missed by the flock of birds who frequent his veranda for their daily suet fix. 

Steve touched the lives of so many people throughout his lifetime and will be greatly missed. We will remember Steve for his charm, wit, and outgoing nature. We will try to emulate his zest for life and find joy in the everyday occurrences that we often take for granted.