Kempema, Clarence 1903-1985

KEMPEMA, HENRICKS

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 3/2/2015 at 19:00:43

Source: Rock Valley Bee (7-3-1985)

Born: July 18, 1903
Died: July 1, 1985

Clarence Kempema, 81, of Hudsonville, Michigan, passed away Monday, July 1, of a heart attack.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday (today), at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, Hudsonville. Reverend Stulp will officiate. Interment will be in Georgetown Cemetery.

Mr. Kempema is survived by his wife, Willemina (Henricks) Kempema; eight children, Ann Marie and Jim Hibma, James and Jean Kempema, Donald and Carole Kempema, Evelyn and Donald Vork, Kenneth and Terri Kempema, Marlys and James Keatley, Maxine and Robert Johnson, David and Luann Kempema; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Charles, Ernest, John, and Herman Kempema, all of Rock Valley, and his sisters, Mrs. Martin (Jennie) Kooistra, Mrs. Peter (Frieda) Groeneweg, Mrs. John (Jeanette) Van Maanen, and Mrs. John (Fannie) Kooistra, all of Rock Valley.

Attending the funeral from this area were: The John Van Maanens, the Herman Kempemas, Jennie Kooistra, and Roger, Harlan, and Wally Kempema.

For many years Clarence Kempema was the owner of the Kempema Hatchery and Feed Store in Rock Valley. He also served as church organist for many years in the First and Calvin Church in Rock Valley. The family moved to Hudsonville, Michigan in 1962.

In his retirement years Clarence took up a hobby of oil painting and produced many fine paintings of nostalgia of a time now past. These paintings are now prized by his family and friends.