Jan. 1, 1954 - Sep. 15, 2012
Date of Service: Sep. 21, 2012
Katherine “Kay” Zemke
PAUL – Katherine Ann Henderson Zemke, age 58, of Paul, was taken home on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012.
She was born as the first baby in Jerome County on January 1, 1954, to Marshall Burrell and Mary Posey Henderson. Kay, as she preferred to be called, grew up in Wendell, Idaho, and graduated from Wendell High School in1972. Growing up, Kay attended the Wendell United Methodist Church and was a member of Job’s Daughters. She enjoyed many activities with her family in the Hagerman Valley. After graduating high school she began work at the J.R. Simplot Company in Heyburn.
On Nov. 9, 1975, she married Dennis Zemke in Elko, Nevada. She worked at Simplots for 30 years until the plant closed. After the plant closed she accomplished a goal of graduating from college with an Associate degree in human relations. She was very active in the union and was a shop steward for many years.
She and Dennis had two children, Heidi and Erin. Kay was very active in the Rupert Chapter of Job’s Daughters – chaperoning many events with her children. She was also a member of Paul Eastern Star, and was an active member of Paul United Methodist Church, participating on many committees. She worked at the Twin Falls County Safe House working with many kids – a job she enjoyed very much. Most recently, she has been the bookkeeper for the Rupert Elks.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed doing many things with her time which included crafts, sewing, camping, spending time with family, friends, and grandchildren. Some of her most favorite activities were to cook and to help others cook. She also loved to travel and shop.
She will be greatly missed. “We are forever grateful that God had chosen her to be our mother and loving wife to our Father,” Heidi and Erin.
Survivors include her husband, Dennis Zemke of Paul; her two children, Heidi (Tad) Thornton of Lewiston, Idaho, and Erin (Scott) McKindree of Coolin, Idaho; two grandchildren, Dallan Thornton and Madeline Thornton; and her siblings, Mary (Jack) Packer of Wendell, Marshall (Teresa) Henderson of Burley, and Elizabeth “Teenie” (Owen) Fallin also of Wendell.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at the Paul Pine Chapel, located at the Paul Cemetery, 100 N. 575 W., of Paul. Officiating will be the Rev. Mike Holloman and Rev. Pamela Meese.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home and Crematory Service of Burley.
