The dairy was owned by Vernon R. Lempke and his wife, Frances E. Lempke. It was was located at 116 Kingsbury Avenue. The house and the former milk bottling building at the rear are still standing as of 2026. It later became Felton’s Dairy.
Vernon was born on March 7, 1903 in La Porte County. He died on February 16, 1979.
According to the obituary of Frances E. Lempke published in The South Bend Tribune on November 16, 1992, she was born on February 9, 1906, in St. Joseph County, Indiana. She married Vernon on February 9, 1931, in South Bend. The article notes that she was co-owner of the Lempke Dairy from 1935 to 1946.
The dairy is listed in the 1947 La Porte City Directory. It is unclear whether the business closed in 1946 or 1947. It is possible the dairy was operating in 1946 and closed in 1947, but still appears in the directory because city directories were usually compiled and printed months before their cover year, often reflecting information from the previous year.
1931 — No listing
1938 — Lempke Dairy (Vernon R Lempke) 116 Kingsbury, phone 1783X
1947 — Lempke Dairy (Vernon R Lempke), dairy and home at 116 Kingsbury Ave. Married to Frances.
1949 — Lempke Vernon R (Frances E; E St. Grocery & Market), home at 1212 Jackson.
Bottle Type: Quart milk
Embossing: LEMPKE DAIRY / GUERNSEY QUALITY PASTEURIZED MILK & CREAM / LA PORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: UGP CO 51 (embossed on front heel), Universal Glass Products Co.
Other Marks: “36” (embossed on base), most likely a 1936 date code; SEALED 1027 (embossed on back heel)
Notes:
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
(embossed on base), Owens-Illinois Glass Co.
