PLANT CITY, Fla. - SPC Eric Nathaniel Lembke, 25, of Plant City, Fla., made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on Oct. 23, 2009.
He was born Dec. 12, 1983, in southern Indiana, to Saundra "Sam" Sajak, who survives in Warsaw. On March 14, 2003, he married the love of his life, Mashelle. She survives.
He was a specialist in the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado, US Army. He enlisted as a combat engineer Jan. 29, 2008, to fulfill his life-long dream. He deployed with pride in February 2009. He always kept the big picture in mind when times got tough, and he believed with great conviction that they were making great progress with the war on terrorism. He was a highly decorated soldier having distinguished himself by being posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, and by being previously awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorist Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. He was a lifetime member of Plant City's First Baptist Church, and a 2002 graduate of Simmons Career Center, Plant City High School. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother and solider.
He is and will always be regarded as a hero by his band of brothers. He was a happy and free spirit who could always make you laugh when life was hard, and he always gave everything he had for the things he loved and believed in. He was a man among men.
Also surviving are two wonderful children, Alexis Marie Lembke, "his princess," 6, and Thomas Nathaniel Lembke, "his Nater the Gator," 3; his father figure, Jim Pollard; grandmother, Mae Robinson; in-laws, Thomas and Diana Norton; and siblings: Daniell Lembke, Diana Lembke, Jimmy (and spouse Jeanie) Lembke, Leah Heberling, Anne Stephenson and Nelson Stephenson. He was preceded in death by his foster mother, Dorothy Lembke.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, 503 N. Palmer St., Plant City, Fla. Burial with full military honors will be at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.
Calling is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.
Hopewell Funeral Home, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
