Agnes Louise Lemke French, 3rd child of Herman and Edna (Kistler) Lemke was born on August 28, 1917 in Adair County south of Casey. She later moved west of Casey near Bunker Hill. Agnes attended country school through the eighth-grade. She was baptized and confirmed in 1932 into the Lutheran Church in Casey Iowa. The family moved again to Bear Grove Township. For fun they went to barn and house dances. It was at one of these dances she met and later married Richard French in 1940 and lived north of Guthrie Center all their married life. To this Union 3 children were born Kathleen, Dorothy, and Stewart. While raising three children she raised every kind of poultry. Agnes helped in the fields picking corn by hand and making hay. She tended big gardens keeping the basement stocked with canned vegetables and fruits. She worked off the farm cleaning homes, the Lutheran church, and also worked at the Bar L Ranch for 25 years, she was a very hard worker. Agnes was a member of Victory Ladies Club. She enjoyed making quilts, playing cards, attending dances, puzzles, and for many years harvested walnuts picking out up to 100 quarts in one year. After Richard's passing in 1976 she moved to town. She was a companion of Cecil Jones for about 10 years enjoying many activities. Agnes was the first patient of Dr. Bascom and Dr. Ahrens at their trailer by the hospital in 1981. She passed away April 30, 2014 at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center where she lived for eight months. Agnes was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard French, two brothers, Veryl and Donald Lemke, two sisters, Laura Bard and Ilene Crabbs, an infant brother, grandson in law, Greg Hansen, and a great granddaughter, Gwendolyn Christensen. She was survived by one brother, Carl Lemke, one sister Betty Schmeling, a sister-in-law, Norma Lemke, three children, Kathleen (Duane) Hull, Dorothy (Dale) Grove, and Stewart (Mary) French, 12 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, 11 step great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Opportunity for visitation at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Guthrie Center will be on Saturday, May 3rd from 11-12 with a meal following and services will be held at 1:30 on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at www.twiggfuneralhome.com
Contributor: Evelyn L. Jones Christensen