Jack C. Lemke

John (Jack) Lemke passed away peacefully at his home in Port Washington on April 20 surrounded by his loving family after a battle with cancer.

Jack was born March 25, 1941, to Otto and Louise (Hopfensberger) Lemke in Neenah, WI. He graduated from Neenah High School in 1959 and earned his BS degree from UW-Oshkosh in 1963. He then went to the University of Iowa to pursue a Masters degree in political science. It was in Iowa City that he met his wife, Louise Rothermel. They were married on August 14, 1965 and moved to Watertown in the summer of 1967 where Jack became a Watertown High School 9th grade government teacher for the next 31 years, retiring in June of 1998.

Jack was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and a diehard fan of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Iowa Hawkeyes were the true owners of his sports loyalty, though, and he avidly followed Iowa football and both mens’ and womens’ basketball through this year’s exciting NCAA tournament runs! His favorite pastimes involved spending time with family—grilling out, playing cribbage with his grandkids, and sitting on the deck watching the grandkids play and swim. He also enjoyed playing Sheepshead with his friends and walking the streets of Watertown and the beaches of South Padre Island, making friends everywhere he went. Jack was an involved member of the Watertown Elks Lodge, volunteering in many capacities, including running the Constitution Contest, organizing the Hoop Shoot, delivering Christmas meals in the community, and serving in several leadership roles and as Exalted Ruler twice.

Jack truly valued his friendships and remained in touch with good childhood and college friends from Neenah, Oshkosh, and Iowa. In Jack’s nearly 60 years in Watertown, he formed many meaningful friendships, and all those people meant the world to him.

Jack is survived by his wife of sixty years, Louise, daughter Katie (Bryan) Bichler, son Rob (Andrea) Lemke, daughter Abby (Rudy) Gazvoda, grandchildren Sarah (Jake) Ford, AJ and Will (fiancé Maddie Underwood) Bichler, Olivia and Nathan (fiancé Abney Good) Lemke, Maggie, Max, and Jackson Gazvoda, and his first great-grandchild, Harvey Ford. He is also survived by sisters- and brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Lucy Lemke, his in-laws, Bill and Peg Rothermel, and his granddaughter Samantha Bichler.

Visitation will be held at the Schmutzler-Vick funeral home on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, beginning at 10am with a service to follow at 1pm after the Lodge of Sorrows ceremony at 12:45. In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Elks Foundation or Tunnels to Towers are appreciated.