Services were held Oct. 9 at Central Christian Church in Jefferson for Mike Semke, 67, of Grand Junction.
The Rev J. Alexander, pastor of the church, offered words of comfort. Jim Wyckoff gave the eulogy. Rita Rasmussen accompanied congregational singing. Honorary bearers were Dick Youngblood, Ed Anderson, Wayne Lautner, Steve Bosshart and Brad Bendickson.
Casket bearers were Ted Semke, Tom Semke, Dustin Farnsworth, Nick Daniel, Sam Bassett, David Bassett, Jerry Wagaman and Jay Staggs .Interment was a Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Grant Township.
Micheal Gene Semke, 67, passed away on October 6, 2020. He was born on February 7, 1953 in Hastings, NE the son of Keith and Delores Semke. Mike moved to Jefferson early in childhood and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1971. He attended Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.
Mike began his career at Culver Engineering in Jefferson, moved to Norman, OK, and eventually returned to Carroll to establish his own surveying business, Semke & Associates. He also worked with Beck Engineering Inc. in Spirit Lake for many years. He enjoyed mentoring other surveyors. He was lucky to have found a career that he enjoyed so much.
In 1993, Mike married Peg Semke and her two children, Erin Daniel and Dustin Farnsworth. Together, and with the help of family and friends, they built their dream home, a timber frame next to a large pond, outside of Jefferson. Mike was very proud of his family and enjoyed sharing their beautiful property with family, friends, and their dogs.
Mike was a member, trustee, and to many people’s surprise, in the choir of Central Christian Church. As an avid outdoorsman, Mike enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golfing at Lakeside Golf Course. He dedicated many hours to help at Lakeside. He had an enormous sense of humor, was constantly joking around, and was very quick with the kind of grin that’s not appropriate to name in an obituary.
Micheal will be deeply missed by his wife Peg; children Erin (Nick) Daniel of Jefferson, and Dustin (Jennifer) Farnsworth of Adair; grandchildren Lucas, Ethan, Riley, Levi, Everly, Jovi, and one to arrive in November; siblings Terry Semke and Connie Semke, both of Jefferson; half-brother Scott (Heather) Semke of Des Moines; 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; and many nieces and nephews.
Micheal was preceded in death by his parents; stepdad Bud Young; brother Denny Semke; and sister-in-law Kathy Semke.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to P.A.W.S. Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.
