Obituary of Mae Zemke

MAE E. ZEMKE CINCINNATI, OH - Mae E. Zemke, 91 formerly of Sterling, died January 6, 2013 at Heartland of Madeira. Mae was born May 6, 1921 in Simpson (Pope County), the daughter of Joseph, Sr. and Eva (Cavitt) Rose. She married Elwood R. Zemke on July 27, 1939 in Clinton, IA. He preceded her in death on September 22, 2001. Mae was a homemaker and community activist/volunteer for most of the 75 years that she lived in the Sterling area. She was the first woman to be elected as a City Councilwoman and served for over 17 years in that capacity. She was a past president of the Community General Hospital Women's Auxiliary and served as a Pink Lady and Tag Lady as well as a board member for the hospital. She was a board member of the Sterling-Rock Falls United Community Chest and past co-chair of the United Way Fund Drive. She was past president of Sterling-Rock Falls Republican Women's Club and Sterling Women's Club. She was a member of the National Federation of Republican Women and the Governors' Advisory Council. She was Chairman of Sterling Bicentennial Committee. She served as a board member for the Board of Education District 134, the YWCA, League of Woman's Voter Club, Girl Scout Council and American Diabetes Association. She served as an Ambassador for the Sterling Chamber of Commerce. She was a major contributor of stories and photos of/ about senior citizens and numerous human interest articles for more than a decade to the Sterling Daily Gazette Senior Echo publication. She was a long time member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Sterling. Mae was the first woman recipient of the P.W. Dillon Award from the Sterling Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. She was recipient of the Sterling Woman of the Year Award, the Outstanding Government Service Leadership Award and the YWCA Community Service Award. She is survived by one daughter, Marcia (Dale) VanDeVelde of Davisville, WV; two sons, Jon (Anita) Zemke of Mokena and Douglas (Ellen) Zemke of Cincinnati, OH; one daughter-in-law, Susan Zemke of Minneapolis, MN; one sister, Carole Mayberry; one brother, Randy G. Rose; seven grandchildren, Craig (Elizabeth) Zemke, Jason (Monica) VanDeVelde, Shaun Zemke, Adam VanDeVelde, Steven (Emily) Zemke, David (Sharon) VanDeVelde and Ryan (Kerry) Zemke; three great-grandchildren; Douglas, Lillian and Charles Zemke; and several nieces and nephews. Mae was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ronald Zemke; a daughter-in-law, Lois Kelsey Zemke; stepfather, Leonard Gern; one sister, Olive Crossley; three brothers, Joseph "Bud" Rose, Jr., Robert J. "Jack" Rose and Dale W. Rose; and a grandson, Todd Eric VanDeVelde. Services will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling with Reverend Leo Patterson, officiating. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM, Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Funeral Home. A memorial has been established to CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling, Illinois 61081. Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.