Will County Gazette

Braidwood - Carol Jean Lembke (nee Girot), age 81, of Braidwood, IL, formerly of Essex, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Ascension Living Heritage Village in Kankakee, IL. Carol was born on April 15, 1943, in Joliet, IL, to the late Charles P. and Mildred Marie Girot.

A graduate of Reed-Custer High School, Class of 1961, Carol married Wayne Ervin Lembke on June 16, 1962, in Braidwood. She worked at the Super Value bakery in Wilmington for over 20 years and also served as an Avon Representative for 35 years. Carol was an enthusiastic NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan and enjoyed spending quality time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a fondness for hummingbirds, flowers, and completing puzzles.

Carol is survived by her son Ronald (Michelle) Lembke, daughters Patricia (Ray) Spence, Michelle (Chad) Nesselrodt, and Kristie (Jason) Beard, grandchildren Tiara Becker, Brittany Guynn, Beau Guynn, Cayley Orr, Jason Beard, Jr., and Mya Beard, and great-grandchildren Aaron Issler, Tayelynn Wilson, Natalie Becker, Camden Issler, and Shelby Becker, along with brother-in-law Terry Lembke, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wayne Lembke, and sister Mary Ann (Richard) Koehler.

Visitation will be at R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the funeral service at 3:00 p.m. Cremation rites will follow the services, with inurnment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wilmington at a later date.

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