Clarence Douglas Lempke Sr.

Clarence Douglas Lempke, Sr., of Trappe, MD passed away Monday, July 25, 2005 at University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Mr. Lempke, best known for his love and appreciation for the Eastern Shore and her waters, as demonstrated by his many years of working on the water and his love for fishing, remaining active on the water until the time of his death. Born February 24, 1932, Mr. Lempke served in the Korean War from 1952 through 1954. Later, Mr. Lempke was a boat builder of Wiley’s in Oxford, Maryland, now known as Cutts & Case, and also served as a volunteer with the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Lempke later managed Morton & Hersloff of Presquille, and while employed with Hardy Business at Easton Point, he completed several large main hulls, most notably for the hull built Rudy Schaeffer of Long Island, New York. Mr. Lempke’s boat-building expertise has been featured in Yachting Magazine three times. In late 1984, Mr. Lempke opened his own boat-building business at his place of residence, designing and building boats along with his son, including the design and creation of three molds--38 feet; 22.5 feet; and 17 feet in length. Many of the larger boats were sold on Maryland’s Eastern and Western Shores; the molds were later purchased and are currently being used by Matthew’s Brothers in Denton, Maryland. Mr. Lempke will be forever watching over the Town of Oxford from the painted mural on the wall at Oxford Market. When Mr. Lempke could not be found spending time with his family, he could always be found enjoying the waters of the Chesapeake, which gave him both life and death. Mr. Lempke is survived by his wife, the former Doris Dobson of Oxford, whom he married May 3, 1957; six children; Arlene Viands of Virginia; Ann Sard of Trappe; Emily Altenburg and husband, Kenny of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Carla Fortin and husband, Denis of Morgan, Vermont, C. Douglas Lempke, Jr. and wife, Maureen of Trappe; and Lill Parrish and husband, Wyatt of Easton, Pennsylvania; fourteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, William Lempke of Jacksonville, Florida and James Lempke of Trappe. He is predeceased by one sister, Maude Walton of Virginia and one great grandchild. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at 11:00 AM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Easton, MD, where friends may call on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 PM. Burial will be at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Oxford Volunteer Fire Co., PO Box 421, Oxford, MD 21654.