Cora Lemmenes Hemp

Cora Lemmenes Hemp, age 91, of Waupun, WI, passed away on September 13, 2024 at the Charleston House Memory Care facility in Beaver Dam, WI. Cora was born November 3, 1932, a daughter of Sam and Elsie (Alsum) Hoffman. She and her twin sister Caroline were the seventh and eighth born of eleven children.

She was united in marriage to Robert Lemmenes on February 1, 1963 at the First Christian Reformed Church in East Friesland. Cora and Bob lived on the Lemmenes farm in Brandon Township for 33 years before moving to Waupun in 1996. Cora had 41 happy years married to Bob prior to his death from cancer in 2004. After becoming a widow, Cora married Brian Hemp on April 16, 2005, sharing 19 years of happy memories together. 

Cora was an Avon representative for 20 years, finding happiness and joy in her visits with friends in the community. She enjoyed numerous hobbies and crafts throughout her life, including acrylic painting and creating beautiful flower gardens. She loved music and was always listening to, singing along or whistling a favorite hymn. Cora enjoyed her Frisian heritage and continued to speak Fries, her first language, with her extended family throughout the years. She was a member of the Alto Reformed Church where she sang in the Senior Choir, taught children’s Sunday School and VBS, and was active in Bible studies, women’s and senior ministries. 

Cora is survived by her second husband, Brian Hemp; a son whom she raised as her own, James (Kimberly) Lemmenes of Humboldt, IA; daughters, Jean Lemmenes of Holland, MI; Joan (Scott) Hermsen of Waunakee; step-children, Eric (Michelle) Hemp of McFarland; Jodi (Shawn) O’Leary of Green Bay; grand children, Anna (Nick) Walker, Andrew (Katy) Lemmenes, Elissa Hermsen, Emily (Joseph) Saskowski, Eric Hermsen; step-grandchildren, Diedrich Hemp, Isaac Hemp, Carissa Hemp; great-grandchildren, Avery Walker, Ellie Lemmenes, Jonah Lemmenes, Lydia Lemmenes; siblings, Joann Alsum, Ronald (Harriet) Hoffman; sister-in-law, Linda (George) Albright; plus many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; siblings,Tena (Bill) Dykstra, Agnes (Ed) Westra, Jake (Margie) Hoffman, Carl (Myrt) Hoffman, John (Evelyn) Hoffman, Melvin (Alice) Hoffman, Caroline (Norman) Heeringa, Eleanor Hoffman in infancy; brother in-law, Marvin Alsum; in-laws, Howard (Everdeen) Lemmenes, Elton (Ann) Lemmenes, Ruthanne (Noel) Follmer.

Funeral services for Cora Hemp will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 11am at Alto Reformed Church with Pastor Kevin Van Wyk officiating. Burial will follow at Alto Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call on the family on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm at Werner Harmsen Funeral Home in Waupun, and on Thursday at the Alto Reformed Church from 10 am until the 11 am time of service.

Thank you to all who cared for Cora at the Charleston House Memory Care and Generations Hospice in Beaver Dam.

Memorials may be directed to the Church Health Services (https://www.churchclinic.org/donate.html) and Generations Hospice (https://generationshomeandhospice.com/donate/) .