Edward Lema

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Edward Joseph Lema, 76, of Marble Hill died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Sept. 6, 1932, in Racine, Wis., son of Adolph and Mary Loontjens Lema. He and Jane Leona Carter were married May 31, 1952, in Milwaukee.

Lema attended Wisconsin School of Engineering. He was a mechanical engineer with Trojan Explosives. After retiring he was a greeter at Wal-Mart in Jackson. He was a member of Scopus United Methodist Church, VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau and member and past exalted ruler of Elks Lodge 849 in Provo, Utah.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Holly Young of Canyonville, Ore.; two sons, Douglas Lema of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Patrick Lema of Sedgewickville, Mo.; two sisters, Madge McCarthy and Darlene Larsen of Racine; a brother, Remi Lema of Racine; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and six stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel. An Elks service will be held at 7.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the chapel, with the Rev. Anthony Stewart officiating. Burial will be in James Cemetery at Scopus, Mo.