Samuel B. Lemke Sr., age 74, of Stratford, beloved husband of the late Linda Solhem Lemke, passed away on Friday June 2, 2017 in his home. Sam, the retired proprietor of Lemke Auto Works in Stratford was born in Milford on December 9, 1942 to the late Edward and Evelyn (MacCloud) Lemke and has been a lifetime area resident. He was an avid fan of NASCAR and the New England Patriots, and enjoyed cooking, country music and bowling with his late wife Linda. Sam was a lifelong mechanic and loved classic cars and attending car races. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Moose, Stratford. Survivors include his beloved children, Samuel B Lemke Jr of Ansonia, Brenda Lemke of Waterbury, and Susan Lemke of West Haven, brothers, Gene Allen, William, Thomas, Joseph, and Carl Lemke, sisters, Carol Welsh and Jean Ward, sister-in-law, Ruth Lemke, brother-in-law, Ralph Solhem and his wife Ellen, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends may greet Sam's family on Friday, June 9 ^th from 10:30-12:30 p.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford. Interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, Stratford. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations to a charity of choice in memory of Sam.