Mary Ellen Lemke, 96, of Grinnell passed away on September 3, 2020, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 8th, at the Grinnell Christian Church with Rev. John Epperson of Grinnell officiating. Vocalist will be Josh Van Donselaar. Pallbearers are Kenneth Crandell, John Epperson, Paul Lang, and Danny Peters. Honorary bearers are Danny Carroll and Larry Mindrup. Burial will follow at the Pleasant Township Cemetery in Ewart. Visitation with the Lemke family present will be held at the Grinnell Christian Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Mary Lemke family. Mary was born on August 1, 1924, in Grinnell, the daughter of Charles Edward and Inez Darland Sutton. She was raised in Grinnell and was a graduate of Grinnell High School. On September 2, 1945, she was united in marriage to Earl Edward Lemke, in Montezuma. The couple lived in Grinnell where they raised their four daughters. She was a member of the Grinnell Christian Church. Mary held a strong faith and she knew God. She was a good Christian! She knew the value of providing and maintaining a loving home for her family; she was very proud of her children. She loved to bake, especially making cinnamon rolls, breads, and meat loaf. Her handmade ice cream recipe was shared to many family members and friends for them to enjoy. Mary held a passion for gardening and canning large numbers of vegetables and fruits. She really enjoyed traveling, especially with her husband to his army reunions and to visit her daughters. Survivors include three daughters, Jane Lemke and Donna Ulrey of Grinnell, and Judy Sayre of Keosauqua; and two granddaughters, Tracy Lemke of Marshalltown and Heather Burch of Grinnell. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Earl on July 2, 1998; one daughter, Joyce Lemke on November 15, 2019; a son in infancy, Charles Lemke; and a sister, Mildred Peters.