Neil Francis Lemke, age 82, was born Aug. 6, 1934, in Williams Lake, B.C. and passed away on Dec. 31, 2016. His family moved to Auburn, Wash. when he was 8 years old.

He graduated from Auburn High School in 1953 and attended Seattle University for the next 2 ½ years. In 1957 he married Diana Sedgemore. Neil then went to work for Washington State Fisheries for about 2 ½ years. Then his love for the wholesale florist business pulled him back to Northwest Wholesale Florist where he stayed for the next 20 years. He then decided to start his own wholesale florist business. Evergreen Wholesale Florist thrived until 1999 when he and his partners sold the business. He retired and moved with his wife Diana to Ocean Shores.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 57 years; daughter Debra and son-in-law Frank Recchio; sons Kevin and David Lemke; his sister Joan Walker and also daughter-in-law Camille Lemke. He is preceded in death by son Jim Lemke and his sister Patty Small. He is loved by 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Neil’s Celebration of Life will be held on Jan. 29, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at The Rainier Room at the Truitt Building: 102 West Main St., Auburn, WA 98001. Please enter at the rear of the building by the parking lot, where the elevator is located.

Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street, Hoquiam, Wash.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.