Herman G.P. Lemke, former council chairman, dead at 84

Advertiser Staff

Former Honolulu City Council Chairman Herman G.P. Lemke died Friday. He was 84.

Lemke was born in Honolulu. He was class president of St. Louis College in 1935.

As a public accountant, he started the accounting firm Lemke, Chinen and Tanaka.

Lemke served on the Honolulu Board of Supervisors for six years and on the City Council in 1960-68. He championed equal treatment under tax ordinances as well as public rights of way to beaches.

Lemke was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1974.

He received the Distinguished Public Service Award in 1982 from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served as chairman of the Hawai'i Civic Club in 1983. Lemke was also a trustee for the Robinson Estate.

He is survived by his wife, Florence; sons, David, Michael and Herman Jr.; daughters, Marlene, and Adele Badone; two granddaughters; brothers, Paul and William; and sisters, Adele Ostrem and Emilie Williams.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Star of the Sea Church, with Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawai'i.