Howard Hiemke

February 21, 1933 - September 24, 2024

Howard passed away in Prescott Valley, Arizona. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a son of Hugo and Elsa Hiemke. He lived a very full life of 91 years.

His early life took his family from Milwaukee, to Chevy Chase, Maryland, and South Pasadena, California. He met his wife and partner in life, Meg (Margaret) and married her in 1956 after serving two years in the United States Army. The family then moved to Georgetown, California in 1963, after graduating from Whittier College with a BA in Geology and teaching credential. He lived in Georgetown for 58 years until moving to Vacaville in 2021, and finally, Prescott Valley in June 2024.

Anyone that knew Howard, knew his passion for life in Georgetown. He taught and influenced the life of thousands of students at Georgetown Elementary, where he served as a 5th grade and Social Studies teacher. He coached basketball, track, and volleyball for many years. He was also an ongoing advocate for the Georgetown Nature Area, where he spent countless hours building and maintaining trails, coordinating work crews, building nature classrooms, monuments to Georgetown's native culture and Chief Coppa Hembo, and the wonderful Amphitheater.

His contribution to life in Georgetown included helping build and maintain Buckner Hall at the Methodist Church, volunteer fireman, a 30+ year member and past president of the Georgetown Rotary Club, where he helped establish and coordinate the Santa Claus program, the American Heritage speech contest, international student exchange program, bus stop shelters, and many other community service projects. Howard also led the Boy Scout Troop 116, taking hundreds of local scouts on camping and back pack trips throughout Northern California, Europe, and Boy Scout camps. Other Georgetown based organizations he was affiliated with, and supporter of include The Gold Pan Players, Music On The Divide, Georgetown Methodist Church member and board member, Eldorado Recreation District, FONA (Friends of the Nature Area), and the Eldorado Community Foundation where he established and funded the Georgetown Youth Fund, the Eldorado Recreation District, and the Masons Lodge.

Howard always loved traveling, mostly with his incredible wife and mother of his three children, Meg, who sadly passed away in 2018. His journeys included numerous trips to Europe, annual two-month trips to Puerto Escondido, Mexico, around the world adventures to China, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, India, Egypt, and South America. Howard and Meg took each of their grandchildren on a worldly trip to Europe, or South America when they were 12-14 years old. He also took his RVs, canoe and kayaks across the US, Canada, and Baja, Mexico, as well as numerous trips to Alaska and Hawaii.

Howard is survived by his sister, Carol Hiemke DeVoe (SPHS '52) of Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter Karen (David) Wikler of Henderson, Nevada, son Ken (Karen) Hiemke of Vacaville, daughter Amy (Frank) McBryde); and five grandchildren.

Georgetown Gazette, October 17, 2024