Gene Edward Hempe (1929-2009)
HEMPE, LASPE, WAHLIN, BECHT
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 8/23/2009 at 12:05:21
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Sunday, August 22, 2009.
Gene Edward Hempe, 79, of Ames, died Friday, August 21, 2009 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames. The family will greet friends in the narthex from 9:30 a.m. until service time.
Gene Hempe was born Oct. 7, 1929, in St. Louis, Mo., to Henry and Grace (Laspe) Hempe. He married Elizabeth Joan Metzler on June 1, 1957. They have resided in Ames since 1962.
Gene passed away surrounded by his greatest possessions, his family. He was their shining example of a simple life revolving around faith in God, love of family and care for our fellow human beings. Although he was unassuming, his reach was broad. He painted beautifully, both on canvas and in the love he cultivated around him.
He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He worked as a landscape architect and camp planner with Harrison Hempe Davis, retiring in 2002. He was an Air Force veteran.
He attended seminary for two years and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. Gene’s great love in life was painting with watercolors, pastels and sumi ink.
His major subject choice was Iowa and its surrounding landscapes, which showed his love of nature.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Hempe, of Ames; three sons, Mark (Sandy) Hempe of Ames; Paul (Lynn) Hempe; and Dreux (Mary Jo) Hempe, all of Eden Prairie, Minn; three daughters, Deidre (Mike) Wahlin, of Ames; Monica (Richard) Becht, of Jamestown, N.Y.; and Pippa Hempe, of Ames; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Robert, Jerome and Donald.
To remember Gene and his giving heart, memorials may be sent to Emergency Residence Project, 225 S. Kellogg Ave., Ames, IA, 50010.
Condolences may be left at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com.
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