Mildred (Milly) Lemke passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on May 22, 2026. She was born in Manitowoc, WI, to Edwin and Marie Waack on July 12, 1925. Milly was a 1943 graduate of Lincoln High School. On April 23, 1955, she married Howard Lemke at First German Lutheran Church in Manitowoc. They lived in Two Rivers for ten years before moving to Appleton in 1965.

Survivors include her three children: Brian (children Kurt, Alyssa, Camryn & Monette), Amy (child Alina & husband Andrew Burton) and Laurie (& Mark West with children Mason, Claire & Augie) and a brother Elton Waack, along with nieces, nephews and cousins.

Milly was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ladies Aid, and Past President’s Club. With Howard, she enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing bridge and cribbage, taking bus trips, and volunteering. She was a career secretary, starting as a "ration girl" during WW2 issuing stamps for restricted goods such as tires and sugar. She retired as the office manager of Badger Metals of Appleton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, parents Edwin and Marie Waack, in-laws Gilbert and Minnie Lemke, sister Gladys (Harold) Gass, sister-in-law Kathy (Elton) Waack, niece Lois Gass Pinnow and nephews Gerald and Ronald Gass.

A private celebration of life was held with family. A special thank you to Glen & Linda Zimmerman, Amy Johnson, and care staff for their support.

Memorials may be sent to: AppleBlossoms for Appleton, 407 N. Outagamie Street, Appleton WI 54914. Every May, apple trees are planted in the Fox Valley. Milly spearheaded the planting of maple trees in Appleton boulevards starting in the mid-1960's.