TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Plant City residents recall soldier killed in Afghanistan

Photo from Janet Llamas

Eric Lembke and his wife, Mashelle

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2009

PLANT CITY - Local residents heard of U.S. Army Spec. Eric Lembke's death while serving in Afghanistan, and they were saddened to hear the news.

But their sad thoughts turned to wonderful memories of him and his wife, Mashelle.

"Nothing seemed to faze Eric," said Jannie Getty, 50, "He took life so easy. He had a warm and sincere smile."

Getty met Lembke when they worked for the Orange Blossom Tea Room in Plant City.

"Eric was a good boy who turned into a great young man," Getty said. "He was a hard worker and loved his children."

Lembke died last week while serving his country. During a routine mission, he was killed by an improvised explosive device.

Lembke was raised in Plant City. He graduated from Plant City High School.

He joined the Army two years ago. He was deployed to Afghanistan in February 2009. His tour was to end in February 2010.

Chris Jackson, 30, remembered him as a good person to work with and a kind soul. Jackson worked with Lembke at the Orange Blossom Tea Room.

"He was an easy going guy, kind of carefree an independent guy,' Jackson said.

Friends said they were the first to be married at Cornerstone Center, in the renovated Plant City's First Baptist Church sanctuary built in 1923, now registered as an historic site.

The Army transferred the Lembkes to Colorado Springs in 2008. The Lembkes have two children, Alexis, 7, and Nathaniel, 3.

"Eric is a young man who I came to appreciate a great deal," said the Rev. Tommy Warnock, an associate pastor at Plant City's First Baptist Church who married Eric and Mashelle Lembke. "Eric was strong on ambition. He looked for ways to better his career and the lives of his family."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT