Kempema, John A. 1923-1993

KEMPEMA, MEENDERING, VANMAANEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 3/2/2015 at 19:10:07

Source: Rock Valley Bee (4-21-1993)

Born: October 30, 1923
Died: April 17, 1993

John A. Kempema, 69, of Rock Valley, died Saturday, April 17, at Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley. Services were Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with the Reverend C. Eric Fennema officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery.

Kempema was born October 30, 1923, southwest of Rock Valley, the son of Charles and Sophie (Meendering) Kempema. He married Arta Van Maanen on March 14, 1949, at Rock Valley. The couple farmed near George for eight years and then returned to Rock Valley where he operated a corn-shelling and grinding business. He worked at Roorda Machine and also did carpentry work in the Rock Valley area.

Survivors include his wife, Arta; three sons and their wives, Harley and Sheryl of Sioux Falls, Al and Robin and Stan and Molly, all of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; two daughters, Jolene and her husband Tom Kerwin and Norma Kempema, all of Monona, Wisconsin; three sisters, Mrs. John (Gert) Blankespoor of Rock Valley, Mrs. Joe (Hermie) Hall of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Mrs. Art (Margaret) Van Otterloo of Hull; a sister-in-law, Sylvia Kempema of Rock Valley; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Raymond.