Paul David Lemke

Paul David Lemke, 74, passed away peacefully in Lehi, Utah, on July 16, 2020 due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Paul was born September 13, 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona to Paul A. Lemke and Celeste T. Lemke, but grew up in Hurley, New Mexico. Paul attended Cobre High School, class of 1963, where he played tennis, played the clarinet, managed the basketball team and was active in FFA. Paul studied engineering at New Mexico Tech and New Mexico State University, where he met his wife, Lorraine (Davis). They were married in Santa Fe, NM, on June 3, 1967 and later sealed in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Los Angeles California Temple. They are the parents of three children: Terrill, Holly, and Troy.

Paul’s career in the aerospace industry started at White Sands Missile Range in NM and took the family from coast to coast and several places in between. The family lived in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, New Mexico; El Paso,Texas; Santa Maria, California; Merritt Island, Florida; Florence, Alabama; Pocatello, Idaho; and Highlands Ranch and Johnstown, Colorado. Paul had numerous interesting experiences in his career, including working at Kennedy Space Center and being involved in multiple space shuttle launches.  He was also able to travel internationally, making multiple trips to the UK and Australia. Following his retirement in 2015, Paul and Lorraine returned to Albuquerque.

He enjoyed sports and outdoor activities of all kinds: golf, tennis, snow and water skiing, softball, fly fishing, hunting and camping. Over the years Paul played on countless company softball teams.  He particularly enjoyed engaging in these activities with his kids and grandkids. Later in life, he and Lorraine loved taking their RV on camping trips and visits to National Parks.

As an adult, Paul joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and throughout the remainder of his life served in a variety of responsibilities, including a particularly meaningful experience as a youth Sunday School teacher in Idaho. He had faith in God and Jesus Christ and encouraged his children and grandchildren to be faithful in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul was known for his calm demeanor, which could be unnerving for errant children expecting more of a severe response, but he was the first one his children turned to in a crisis. He would calm you down and always help you find a solution. He was also able to show empathy for almost any situation by sharing a personal experience—perhaps with a little embellishment from time to time. Paul was able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone like they were an old friend, and he could talk your ear off. For much of his life Paul was follically challenged which he said his mother attributed to wearing his cowboy hats too tight as a young man.

He was very mechanically inclined and a good handyman. His kids don’t remember cars being taken to the shop or repairmen coming to the house. Paul led and instructed many home improvement projects and fixed everything around the house from cars to appliances to plumbing. As his kids established homes of their own he was always willing to come help with projects, buy more tools, teach skills, and offer advice.

Paul is survived by his children Terrill (Amy) Lemke of White Rock, NM, Holly (Michael) Kidd of Eagle Mountain, UT, and Troy (Julie) Lemke of Colorado Springs, CO. Fourteen grandchildren: Kaitlin, Justin, Anna and Tessa Lemke; Paul (Anne-Marie), Sarah, Hannah and Matthew Kidd; David, Hanna, Ben, Abby, Grace and Ava Lemke. He is also survived by his brothers Randy (Beverly) Lemke of Silver City, NM; Tom (Steve) Lemke of Lakewood, CO; and Eric (Karen) Lemke of Cleveland, TX. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lorraine (together again!) and his parents.

Memorial services for Paul will be held July 27, 2020 in Santa Fe, NM under the direction of Rivera Family Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Covington Senior Living in Lehi, UT, specifically Forrest Yorgeson and Carol Lewis as well as his amazing hospice nurse Sarah Moore of Bristol Hospice. We appreciate her compassion and loving care especially at the end of his life.