Editors Note: Its not often as a journalist that we are asked to do something for a family or a bowling organization in our sport. Unfortunately as journalist, we are never remembered for the good things that we do in our career. We are only remembered for the things we do that create controversy. So, when Jon Lemke, the son of bowling legend Carole Lemke. Reached out to me and asked me if I could do this tribute article on her. My immediate response was, how could I say no. I lived in Ft.Myers from 1976-1993, and got my journalism career started in this Southwest Florida city. I also got to know Carole and did a couple of stories on her bowling career. A bowling career that started over 50 years ago in Wisconsin. And saw her be inducted into the Wisconsin State Hall Of Fame in 1992, and the Milwaukee Hall in 1977. The things that she was able to accomplish on the lanes back in the day were amazing. Because they were accomplished on wooden lanes and not synthetic ones. Here is the tribute to her. A big thank you! to Jon, and the family for helping me get this tribute to her done.
Pictured Is: Carole Lemke - Formerly Of Cape Coral, Fl. Photo Courtesy Of John Lemke.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Life Long Bowler - Bowling Champion - Devoted Mother- And Friend To All Of Us Who Knew Her And Written About Her Accomplishments.
Ft.Myers, Fl. February 2020 - - - Carole Lemke, who bowled her way to greatness, sadly passed away last month. She will always be remembered as one of the most accomplished women bowlers of all time in the State of Wisconsin. Her mother and father, Helen and Erwin Wardius, encouraged her to take up bowling at a early age.
"I was very young, maybe five and watched my mom bowl with my dad, because no babysitter was available. In my early teens, I watched my mom bowl in the Milwaukee Women's Classic League in the late 70s, which was the best league in the state for women," recalls her son, Jon, of his first memory of walking into a bowling center with his mom. "I've been in countless bowling centers with my mom and carrying her bowling ball for over 20 years from 5-25, and even after that point as well. My memory was of how good the bowlers were and how many people came out to watch my mom and all of the best ladies bowl. It was the thing to do in the 60s, 70s, and 80s."
Jon, who still lives in Cape Coral, and is employed in hotel sales and marketing. Also remembers what it was like being the son of a Wisconsin bowling legend and seeing the attention his mom got from the game of bowling.
"It was very cool as a young man to see so many people watching my mother as she bowled. So many people would say hello to her, and I thought she was such a celebrity. I always remember being so proud to carry her bowling ball and bag from the car inside," he said, of watching his mom bowl when he was growing up. "Back in those days, all of the top bowlers had their names printed on their bowling bags with their hometown in fancy printing like my mother, so you could see who they were."
Carole loved the sport and bowling was integral in her quest to be the best she could be after a bout with polio in her early teens. In her late teens, she was approached by Esther Ryan to bowl in the Milwaukee Women's Classic League, the premier league for the best women bowlers in the state.
"I learned how to deal with pressure and being calm under competition and scoring situations. Dealing with the rough spots of her career were rough!, said Jon, of what was the one thing he learned from watching his mother bowl. "The best thing for me to do, was walk away for for a frame or two. If things were not going so well and come back to see if she bounced back. I helped her deal with it, by encouragement and support and telling her what she might be doing wrong. Like lifting the ball more onto the lane, and bending more at the foul line sometimes."
Needless to say, Carole excelled and won a number of titles including six state team event championships as a member of: Pinky's, Strachota's, and Nino's teams in the WWBA tournment. Those team titles coming in:1963, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, and 1986.
"I did bowl when I was a kid and my mom taught me how to be good. I never reached the capabilities as I had hoped I would though," said Jon, of following in his mom's footsteps. And dealing with the instant pressure of being a son of a legend. "I do remember several times when I was bowling and my mom would be watching me. People would stop because they would recognize my mother, and figure out I was her son bowling. So, they would watch me thinking I was aw some, too, and I got so nervous. It is funny now to think back on that."
Carole and her partner Val Costa won the state doubles title in 1969, and again in 1974 with Jackie Rector. In 1972 she won the state singles and collected one of her record three state all-events titles. Those coming in: 1962, 1970, and 1972.
"Wow, this is a big question," said Jon, of the best piece of advice his mom gave him. And of the best piece of advise he gave his mom. "In terms of bowling, she told me to have fun and enjoy the sport. For me, I encouraged her a lot and rooted for her and was just supportive. I did try to help her when I got to know her game better in my mid-teens. I could see the little things she was doing wrong which helped her in competition to correct. As far as life lessons . . . well my mother always said to me: 'things will work out. Everything will be OK' when life got tough. She was right. For me, I'm still learning and my life lesson would be to be yourself and try your best at everything you do."
Bowling for over 50 years, Carole won four Milwaukee team titles in: 1958, 1963, 1968, and 1973. The Milwaukee doubles title twice and took home several Wisconsin State Match titles, that was sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal. Including the 1970 singles. Doubles with Vicki Vukovich in 1974, and all-events in 1981.
"I'm not really sure. She was successful for sure at so many venues and cities," said Jon, on what his mother thought of her bowling accomplishments on wooden lanes. "I do remember that she preferred lanes that were not just oiled. And that she was one of a very few bowlers back in the day, that only had one or two bowling balls for different lane conditions. While everyone else had 4-6 bowling balls. More balls did not necessarily equate to higher scores as my mom proved."
In addition to the state and city titles in Wisconsin, she also won three 700 club championships. And, was the Wisconsin Women's Non-Pro Champion in 1970. Carole Lemke was also a regular on the popular 'Bowling With The Champs' television show that aired on WTMJ Channel 4 in Milwaukee. She won the title in 1977. Her career high series on the show of 717, was shot in 1983.
Based upon the number of times Carole appeared on 'Bowling With The Champs'. Its host, Hank Stoddard, knew then that she would be inducted into a bowling Hall of Fame someday. And was happy to learn that it was the Wisconsin and Milwaukee Halls that she would be enshrined in. She was inducted into the Milwaukee Hall in 1977, and the Wisconsin State Hall in 1992.
"I was host of the 'Bowling With The Champs' show for 30 years. Carole Lemke was among the top two or three female bowlers," recalls Stoddard. "She won the championship and qualified to be on the show several other times."
Carole unfortunately, never rolled a 300 game during her career. Back in the day of wooden lanes, it was almost impossible to roll one. Unlike today of course. She did though, roll several 290's. And included a 297 and her high game of 298 in the Milwaukee Women's Classic League at Kuglitches Bowl in Milwaukee.
"My mother got new bowling balls over the years of course, to adapt to the new lanes and new ball styles, but she always kept it at no more that two balls for any event," said Jon, of how his mom tried to adjust from the replacement of wooden lanes to synthetic ones in the 1990's. "She made these balls work and adapted to the lanes with her approach and angle of attack, versus the same motion using a different ball and making the ball do the work. My mom made the ball work for her. My mom had success on all types of lanes and when she moved to Cape Coral in 1987. She won many city and state tournaments on the newer lanes in the early 90's as well."
In 1970 Carole was named by the Milwaukee Journal as Wisconsin Women Bowler of the Year, and was named a member of the women's 'Bowling Team of the Decade' from 1970-1980. Along with: Jean Bopp, Carol Miller, Doris Hollweck, and Elaine Rebatzke. She had a career high average of 198.
"Well several things," said Jon, of what he thinks her mom would be the most proud of. "She overcame polio because of her desire to bowl again as an early teenage girl. Bowling was a driving force for her to walk again with the help and support of her mother and father along with bowling. Her biggest accomplishment was representing Wisconsin in the National All-Star Tournament in the late 60's when she was still young. Also, winning the 'Bowling With The Champs' television show in Milwaukee and setting the record of three all-events titles in the Wisconsin State Tournament. The one thing she was proud of the most, was being inducted into the State of Wisconsin Bowling Hall of Fame. The best of the best men and women bowlers are enshrined there."
Carole relocated to Southwest Florida in the late 80's, and continued to bowl and win many titles in the State of Florida as well. She was a Florida Bowling Queens Champion in 1991. Over the many years of her bowling career, she was able to overcome many health related issues with her strong faith and support of family and close friends.
"She accomplished more in a short period of time than anyone. Given the circumstances," said Jon, of his mothers bowling career. "My mother was very strong and resilient and known for her class and grace in bowling competition for over 50 years. But, was also one of the most: gracious, genuine, and nice people anyone could know."
And the rest as they say, is history.
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This Is A Story That I Did On Her For A Paper I owned, Called The Ten Pin Express.
Ft. Myers, Fl. Jaunuary 1991 - - - Carole Lemke of Cape Coral had a point to make when the Florida Bowling Queens visited Woodside Bowl in Naples on December 1 and 2, 1990.
And the point was, she is not getting older. She is getting better.
The then 55 year-old right-hander averaged 193 for 15 games to claim the senior division, and the first-place check for $300.
This is the second time the Queens have paid a visit to Southwest Florida within the last five years. Coral Lanes in Cape Coral played host to a similar event in 1987. And the 25th Anniversary tournament will take place at Galaxy Lanes in December of this year.
Lemke came out of the gate and shot a 971 for her first five games on the 11:00 a.m. squad on Saturday. The 5:00 p.m. shift that same day, also saw her post a 994 after the completion of another five games.
Out of her first 10 games: Lemke recorded five 200 games, two games in the 190s, two in the 180s and one in the 170s.
"The women in my division were all good bowlers. I thought I didn't have a chance to win the tournament. I was lucky enough to win the event," said Lemke, who retired from Wisconsin Bell after 32-years of service. "I felt comfortable with my game on Saturday. I struggled on Sunday. I had enough pin count to carry me over the top on Sunday from Saturday."
Indeed she struggled on the first squad on Sunday as she only fired an 888 set for her final five games. But, again, her 2,853 total for 15 games was still good enough to put her at the top of the pack.
The Queens Tournament is a scratch event. Bowlers bowl three five-game blocks with the total pin fall for those games determining the winner in two divisions. One is a senior division, and the other is a regular division.
"I always put the 8:00 a.m. squad off until Sunday," said Lemke, of her final five-game block. "I'm just going to have to learn how to adjust to bowling on an earlier squad sometime or another."
Lemke recorded her first 700 series in Florida on Oct. 20th, 1990. This was accomplished at Liberty Lanes in Largo, during a state 600 club gathering. Her games of: 214, 222, and 268 were good enough for a 704 set.
Lemke was elected to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Hall of Fame in 1977 for Achievement.
She had won 10 city and 12 state titles. Lemke also added two more 700 series to her list of bowling accomplishments.
"Being elected to the Milwaukee Hall of Fame, was one of the greatest honors I could have. Because it was for something I had accomplished," said Lemke, of the honor. "I took bowling more seriously in Wisconsin. I moved down here to relax on the beach, and bowling has been put on the back seat."
Lemke spent the 1960-61 season on the pro tour, when it was known as the Professional Women's Bowlers Association (PWBA). This was also during the Joy Abel and Lavern Carter era. Her best showing was a third place finish at a tour stop in McKees Rocks, PA.
"The money is so much better today. We didn't have the money or the television exposure back then as the women's tour does now," said Lemke, of how much women's bowling has changed the last 30-years. Today's women put on as good a show as the men do, and they are getting better and better."
Lemke's goal in bowling is to roll a perfect game She also has a sanctioned 297 and 298.
Joan Dunlap of North Ft.Myers finished fourth in the senior division with a 2,791.
Bev Dibble from Cape Coral finished in 10th place in the regular division with a 3,039. Maria Durrance of Ft.Myers was the Team USA qualifier with a 1,785.
Andrea McCarraher of Ft.Myers recorded the high game of the tournament - a 288.
National Bowling News - March 3, 2020
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