Darla Jeanene "DJ" Lemke passed away in Flagstaff, AZ, on August 11, 2026, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. She fought with the strength, determination, and tough Irish spirit that defined her, never giving up even when the road was difficult. She was, without a doubt, one of the toughest women you could ever know.

DJ was small but spicy, energetic, charismatic, and usually in charge. She was married to Carl "Moose" Lemke for 47 years and 10 months, and he called her "The Chief," a name that fit her perfectly. To her grandchildren, she was their beloved Nana or Nanner.

She was a one-of-a-kind woman who did things her own way. She was healthy, active, and always in shape, with the most beautiful hair, a beautiful smile, and a personality that drew people in.

DJ loved a clean, organized house and had an incredible eye for decorating. She loved antiques, farmhouse style, and beautiful little details, putting everything together so perfectly that her home looked like it belonged in Country Living magazine. She had perfected the farmhouse look decades before it became popular.

She loved gardening and had a gift for making just about anything grow. She loved her big, lifted Tundra truck, strawberry shakes, and In-N-Out Burger. She loved to iron—even the bedsheets! And in a world where sending a greeting card has become a lost art, DJ was the queen of it. She loved choosing the perfect cards, putting them in the mail, and making people feel remembered and loved.

But more than anything, DJ loved her family.

She and Carl shared a life filled with camping, hiking, cruises, train rides, and adventures across the country and around the world. Together, they collected National Park stamps, visiting an incredible 425 park units, with only eight left. DJ was determined to finish what they had started and cherished the hope that they would complete the journey together.

DJ was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was selfless, thoughtful, fiercely loving, and always put the people she loved first. She passed down her strength, determination, humor, and competitive spirit to her family.

DJ leaves behind a lifetime of memories with the people she loved most and a legacy of strength and love that will continue for generations.

She was The Chief. She was Nana. She was one of a kind.

And she will be missed more than words can say.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." — Proverbs 31:25

She fought the good fight. She never gave up.

Now she can finally rest.

Funeral, Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM, San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church, 1600 Historic Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Memorial services immediately following in the St. Bonaventura Hall in the parish center