Richard H. Lempke

HOLYOKE

Richard H. Lempke, age 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Daybrook Village. He was born in Holyoke, son of the late Max and Erla (Fricke) Lempke. He was the husband of the late Madelyn O. (LeTellier) Lempke. They were high school sweethearts married for 64 years. He was a 1950 graduate of Holyoke High School and attended American Institute of Banking and graduated from Williams College. He served in the United States Army and was a Veteran of the Korean War. He had a 46-year career in banking, retiring as Vice President of Westbank in Holyoke in 1996. He was a member of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, Taxpayers Association, Visiting Nurses Association, and the United Way. Richard was on the Holyoke Medical Center Board of Directors and was Past President and Treasurer of the Holyoke Kiwanis Club. He served on the Parish Council at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and was a communicant of St. Jerome Church. Richard was active in the Holyoke Golden Agers, and the Golden Gloves competition at the Holyoke Boys Club. He attended many events involving his grandchildren and spent time enjoying summer concerts and vacations with his family at Chalker and Hampton Beach. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. Richard is survived by three sons: Richard S. and his wife Angela of Southwick, Michael and his wife Kathy of Holyoke, and Steven of South Hadley; six daughters: Lynette Gubala and her husband Paul of Holyoke, Robin Westcott of AZ, Kathy Wildman of Holyoke, Karen Bernier and her husband G. Phillip of FL, and Nadine Lempke and her fiancé Bill Rohan of Holyoke; a son-in-law, Ricardo Braxton of MI, and twenty five grandchildren: Matt, Mark and Melanie, Lauren and Heather, Nadja, Linda, Stefanie and Tina, Morgan, Amber and Victoria, Jim and Kurt, Zachary and Adam, Kimberlee, Brittany and Emily, Jacob, Nicholas, Megan and Max, and Madison and Mackenzie and twenty one great grandchildren. He also leaves his sisters-in-law, Jeanne O'Connell and husband John, Gloria LeTellier, Shirley LeTellier, and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and wife Madelyn, he was predeceased by a daughter, Carrie Braxton; a son-in-law, Scott Westcott; two brothers, Robert and George Lempke; and three sisters: Betty Slape, Eleanor Tetreault, and Margaret Lempke. He was a kind and gentle man who brought love and happiness to all our lives. Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial for Richard on Friday, December 4th at 10 am, at St. Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street. Burial will be private and there are no calling hours. The Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard's memory to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.

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