Edward H. Kempe (1987)

KEMPE, HAGEN, SWIHART, SOLE, WHEELDON, BECKER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/2/2006 at 10:35:23

Winterset Madisonian - Nov. 1987

Services for Edward H. Kempe, 70, Winterset, who died Oct. 29 at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines, were held Saturday, Oct. 31 at the First Presbyterian Church at Earlham with the Rev. Andrew J. Bosman officiating. Burial was at the Van Meter Cemetery with rites conducted by American Legion post 184.

Born at Rockham, S. D., on Sept. 15, 1917, he was the son of Charles and Elma O. Hagen Kempe. He was a retired auto mechanic and formerly operated the Kempe Motor Co. in Earlham.

Mr. Kempe was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Earlham, the American Legion in Earlham and later the Winterset post, and served as a volunteer fireman at Earlham for many years. He was recently residing at Winterset Care Center North.

He was married to Jeannette P. Swihart of Adel on June 24, 1942 at Waynesville, Mo. She died in 1953. The couple had two children. He was married again to Nellie M. Sole of Earlham on April 16, 1955 at Earlham. She died in 1983 and the couple had three children.

Survivors include sons, Roger and Carl, both of Boone; daughters, Mrs. Irene Wheeldon of Martensdale and Joan Kempe of Ames; a brother, Roland Kempe of South Dakota; a sister, Mrs. Leona Becker of South Dakota; and four grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his parents and a son.
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Earlham Echo – November 12, 1987
Earlham, Iowa

Edward Henry Kempe was born September 15, 1917, the son of Charles F. Kempe and Elma O. (Hagen) Kempe, in Rochham, South Dakota. He died October 29, 1987 at the VA Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa.

He had been a resident of Care Center North, Winterset, Iowa. He was a retired auto mechanic and was self-employed at Kempe Motor Company, Earlham.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Earlham, the American Legion in Winterset and had been a volunteer fireman at the Earlham Fire Department for many years.

On June 24, 1942 he was united in marriage to Jeannette Padley Swihart, of Adel, Iowa at Waynesville, Missouri. She passed away in 1952. Children born to this union were Roger Allen and John Charles (deceased).

On April 16, 1955 he was married to Nellie M. Sole of Earlham, Iowa at Earlham. She died in 1983. Children born to this union were Irene Elma, Carl Edward and Joan Marie.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Jeannette Swihart and second wife Nellie Sole Kempe, his parents and son John Charles Kempe.

He leaves to mourn his passing two sons Roger and Carl of Boone, Iowa, two daughters Mrs. Irene Wheeldon of Martensdale, Iowa and Joan Kempe of Ames, Iowa, (a student at Iowa State University), a brother Roland Kempe of South Dakota, a sister Mrs. Leona Becker of South Dakota, four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Saturday, October 31, 1987 at the First Presbyterian Church, Earlham, Iowa with Rev. Andrew J. Bosman officiating. Debbie Jones provided the organ music. Interment was in Van Meter Cemetery, Van Meter, Iowa with military graveside service by American Legion Post #184.

Professional arrangements by Collins Funeral Homes, Winterset, Iowa.