Raymond E. Lemek 1934 - 2005

LEMEK, MICEK, ROHWER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/26/2017 at 15:08:53

Sioux City Journal
20 September 2005

Raymond E. Lemek, 71, of Readfield, Maine, formerly of Sioux City, passed away peacefully at his residence Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, with his wife, Mary, by his side after a courageous battle with a long illness.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winthrop, Maine, with the Rev. Brian Blanchette officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Holy Cross Cemetery, the University of Notre Dame. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home in Winthrop.

Mr. Lemek was born June 28, 1934, in Sioux City, the son of Frank and Loretta (Micek) Lemek. He graduated from Heelan Catholic High School in 1952. He attended the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship, where he played football. He was captain of the 1955-1956 team. He graduated in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in business. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1956 but took a year off to strengthen his knee, which he had injured during the USC game in 1954.

During his rehabilitation, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Rohwer at the Log Chapel on the campus of Notre Dame. In 1957, he began his professional career with the Washington Redskins and continued with them for five seasons, including a Pro Bowl appearance in 1961. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1962. He played with the Steelers for four seasons and retired from football in 1966.

The Lemeks moved to the Boston, Mass., area, where he worked as a salesman for the 3M Company. During their time in Massachusetts, the couple became the parents of two daughters, Caroline and Margaret. In 1976, he and his family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was vice president of sales for steel hauling companies for many years. The couple retired to Readfield, Maine in 1997, and built a home on Torsey Pond.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Mary; two daughters, Caroline and her husband, Deron Leuteneger and Margaret Lemek and her fiance, Sam Loparo, all of Cleveland, Ohio; a grandson, Collin "The Little Guy" of Cleveland; a sister and her husband, Bernadine and Walter Kull of Sioux City; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Ray Lemek Notre Dame Memorial Fund, in care of Kennebec Savings Bank, Main Street, Winthrop, Maine 04364 or the charity of the donor's choice.

Ray's family expresses sincere thanks for the support they received, especially for the services of the Maine General Health System (Seton Rehabilitation, Augusta Branch, Thayer Branch, Health Reach and Hospice) and dear friends who made it possible for Ray to enjoy the last six years of his life in a place he loved.