A graveside memorial service was held Saturday, June 10, at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery for Dennis Lee Semke, 71, of Carroll.
Words of comfort were offered by the Rev Sheldon Henderson, pastor of Central Christian Church of Jefferson. Marg Semke gave the eulogy. Music was provided by trumpeters Peg Semke, Sam Bassett and Wayne Lautner.
Dennis Lee Semke, 71, passed away on June 6, 2017. He was born on March 8, 1946, in Superior, NE, the son of Keith and Delores Semke. He spent his childhood years growing up in Nebraska until the family moved to Jefferson, IA, where he graduated from high school. He got his bachelor of science in industrial administration from Iowa State University in 1970, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard.
During his high school and college years he worked at Bordenaro’s Market in Jefferson. Upon graduation from college he took a job in the mutual fund department of Bankers Life in Des Moines. However, since golf was his first love he then decided to manage the Urbandale Golf and Country Club.
In 1973 he was offered the opportunity to purchase a grocery store in Lake City, and he ran that store for four years. In 1977 he took a job with International Multifoods which was a traveling position. On January 3, 1978, he was involved in a car crash and suffered debilitating injuries from which he never fully recovered. After living in several rehabilitation facilities he settled at New Hope Village in Carroll, Iowa, which was his residence for about 37 years until about two weeks before his death.
Denny is survived by his daughter Lori Denise Semke and his grandson Samuel Neil Semke, both of St. Louis Park, MN; his brothers Terry (Kathy) Semke of Jefferson and Mike (Peg) Semke of Grand Junction, and his sister Connie Semke of Jefferson; his half-brother Scott (Heather) Semke of Des Moines; his step-siblings Jim (Laurie) Wyckoff of Panora, Tom Wyckoff of Waterloo, Suzanne Semke of Templeton, Cherin (Bob) Lee of Cedar Falls, Cathy Nelson of Iowa City, Tom (Ilene) Young of Olathe, KS, and Barb (Doug) Hobart of Grimes; many nieces and nephews; and his former wife Marg Semke of Shakopee, MN.
Memorial contributions can be made to New Hope Village, P.O. Box 887, Carroll, IA 51401. Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.
