Ira R. Kempkes (1878-1959)

KEMPKES, VINJE, DOLK, VANDERWILT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Journal July 1, 1959 (page 3)

Ira J. Kempkes Funeral Services Held Saturday

Funeral services for Ira R. Kempkes were held from the Ryan Funeral Home Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p. m. with the Rev. James Dendler of the Nevada Methodist church officiating.

Mrs. Norman Dobson played a number of selections before and after the service.

The Masonic service at the graveside was in charge of W. E. Horine.

The casket bearers were Stanley Ball, Horace Lounsberry, Howard Mills, Ivan Shalley, Harry Sherk and Gary Wells.

Burial was in the Nevada cemetery.

Obituary

Ira R. Kempkes was born Oct. 13, 1878 at Pella, Iowa, son of Tunis and Adriana Kempkes. He had been a resident of Nevada since 1905.

On Nov. 27, 1907 he was united in marriage to Lulu J. Vinje in Nevada. For a number of years Mr. Kempkes was C. & N. W. telegraph operator in Nevada. He engaged in farming for a time following his retirement at telegrapher. He was a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 99, A.F. and A.M. and of the Des Moines Consistory.

Survivors are his wife, Lulu of Nevaa, one son David J. Kempkes of Glen Elyn, Ill., one daughter, Dorothy, Mrs. Donald Dolk of Des Moines; three brothers, Mathew and Tunis Kempkes, of Pella and Jay Kempkes of Arlington, Wash.; two sisters, Mrs. Will Vanderwilt, Oskaloosa and Elizabeth Kempkes of Everett, Wash. He also leaves two grandchildren, Vicki and Robert Kempkes of Glen Elyn, Ill.

From Out of Town

In addition to David Kempkes of Glen Elyn, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dolk of Des Moines, relatives in attendance at the funeral from out of town included Mr. and Mrs. Tunis Kempkes and Matt Tunis of Pella, also Misses Elizabeth and Mary Kempkes of Pella and Mrs. George Hutson and her mother, Mrs. Dolk, Sr. of Boone.