Neva Lembke

Memorial services for Neva Lembke, age 94, of Albert Lea, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate. Interment will be at Clarks Grove Cemetery at a later date.  Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Neva died Monday, April 18, 2016 at Prairie Senior Cottages.

Neva Lembke was born March 20, 1922.  She grew up on a farm in rural Alden with her parents Martin and Ella (Lewis) Cassel.  She was proud that while her sisters helped their mother in the house, she helped her father with the draft horses, along with other farm chores.  Despite spending little time in the kitchen, she was an excellent cook, always having her grandchildren’s favorites at the table for family dinners. An avid vegetable gardener, one could always count on bringing a box of cucumbers or tomatoes home from a visit to see her.  Neva graduated from Alden High School and the reunions were always a highlight for her.  She remained in close contact with school friends throughout her entire life. On March 20, 1948, she married Alfred Lembke at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove.  

Known for her generosity, Neva often drove people to appointments in Rochester, volunteered at the Salvation Army food shelf, and on many occasions provided meals and clothing to people in need.  A member of Clarks Grove First Baptist Church, she served for many years as Sunday School Secretary, always remembering each child’s birthday with a special bag of treats.  She also organized many church receptions and farm auction lunch sales, through her participation in the Martha Circle.  Well-known in the community for her many years as a school bus driver for Nelson Bus Service, Neva treated the children to full-size candy bars on holidays, rather than the “fun”-size mini ones!  

A woman with a very competitive spirit, Neva loved watching and playing sports including bowling, fast pitch softball, and volleyball.  Her softball teams (Ray’s Southside Texaco, Moose Lodge, Home Lumber, and the Royals) won many championships, as did her Washington National Windjammers volleyball team.  She enjoyed watching the Twins and Vikings (when they were winning) and especially enjoyed women’s college basketball.  One could also frequently catch her at the Elks or the American Legion enjoying one of her favorite pastimes, bingo, with her own daubers and her lucky troll on the table.  

The family thanks the staff at Bancroft Creek Estates and Prairie Senior Cottages for the care they provided Neva in her later years.

Neva is survived by four sons, Duane (Cheryl) Lembke, Dean (Roberta) Lembke, David (Lori) Lembke, and Douglas (Melody) Lembke; grandchildren, Holly (Aaron) Rocklin, Mandy (Al) Brooks, Cody (Jennifer) Lembke, Katie Lembke, and Charlie Rose Lembke; great-grandchildren, Gavyn, Brezlyn, Aaron, and Mya; sister, Joy (Elzo) Peterson; and many nieces and nephews.

Neva was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred; sisters, Jean and Nadene; and nephews, Kirby Berg, Rick Kelly, and Paul Peterson.