John Kempema
Rock Valley, IA: John Kempema, 95, of Rock Valley, died Saturday November 5, 2005 at Hegg Memorial Hospital, Rock Valley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley. Burial at Valley View Cemetery. Rev. Paul Bakker will be officiating. Visitation with family will be 7-8 pm Monday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley.
John was born August 29, 1910 in Rock Valley, son of Riemer and Hermina (Vedders) Kempema. As a child he lived with his parents on farms around Sioux County, and attended rural-county schools. In 1936, he ventured to California working 1 year at General Motors. He returned to the Rock Valley area, worked as a farm hand for a while, and then started farming on his own. John married Henrietta Van Maanen on February 26, 1941 in Rock Valley. Together they farmed northwest of Rock Valley until 1981, at which time John and Henrietta retired to Rock Valley. John continued to work on the farm in his spare time for many years. John was a lifelong member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the Council as Deacon and Elder. He always had time for his neighbors and friends, both in helping them and visiting them. He often spent his evenings reading books and novels, usually concentrating on books of all the wars our country was involved in. John enjoyed his family and shared a real appreciation when his children and grandchildren visited him.
Survivors include one daughter, Eldine (John) Den Boer of Dell Rapids, SD; two sons, Roger (Hilaine) Kempema, Norman (Deb) Kempema all of Rock Valley; one brother Herman (Henrietta) Kempema of Rock Valley; 10 grandchildren, Barb Kriens, Laura Vortherms, Kevin Den Boer, Douglas Kempema, Cassandra Ping, Joshua Kempema, Sara Nieuwsma, Jillian Blankespoor, Meghan Kempema, Taylor Kempema; 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Henrietta who died December 25, 1983, John was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Charlie, Ernest, and Clarence; four sisters, Jennie Kooistra, Frieda Groeneweg, Fannie Kooistra, and Jeanette Van Maanen.
Rock Valley, IA: John Kempema, 95, of Rock Valley, died Saturday November 5, 2005 at Hegg Memorial Hospital, Rock Valley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley. Burial at Valley View Cemetery. Rev. Paul Bakker will be officiating. Visitation with family will be 7-8 pm Monday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley.
John was born August 29, 1910 in Rock Valley, son of Riemer and Hermina (Vedders) Kempema. As a child he lived with his parents on farms around Sioux County, and attended rural-county schools. In 1936, he ventured to California working 1 year at General Motors. He returned to the Rock Valley area, worked as a farm hand for a while, and then started farming on his own. John married Henrietta Van Maanen on February 26, 1941 in Rock Valley. Together they farmed northwest of Rock Valley until 1981, at which time John and Henrietta retired to Rock Valley. John continued to work on the farm in his spare time for many years. John was a lifelong member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the Council as Deacon and Elder. He always had time for his neighbors and friends, both in helping them and visiting them. He often spent his evenings reading books and novels, usually concentrating on books of all the wars our country was involved in. John enjoyed his family and shared a real appreciation when his children and grandchildren visited him.
Survivors include one daughter, Eldine (John) Den Boer of Dell Rapids, SD; two sons, Roger (Hilaine) Kempema, Norman (Deb) Kempema all of Rock Valley; one brother Herman (Henrietta) Kempema of Rock Valley; 10 grandchildren, Barb Kriens, Laura Vortherms, Kevin Den Boer, Douglas Kempema, Cassandra Ping, Joshua Kempema, Sara Nieuwsma, Jillian Blankespoor, Meghan Kempema, Taylor Kempema; 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Henrietta who died December 25, 1983, John was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Charlie, Ernest, and Clarence; four sisters, Jennie Kooistra, Frieda Groeneweg, Fannie Kooistra, and Jeanette Van Maanen.
John Kempema
Rock Valley, IA: John Kempema, 95, of Rock Valley, died Saturday November 5, 2005 at Hegg Memorial Hospital, Rock Valley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley. Burial at Valley View Cemetery. Rev. Paul Bakker will be officiating. Visitation with family will be 7-8 pm Monday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley.
John was born August 29, 1910 in Rock Valley, son of Riemer and Hermina (Vedders) Kempema. As a child he lived with his parents on farms around Sioux County, and attended rural-county schools. In 1936, he ventured to California working 1 year at General Motors. He returned to the Rock Valley area, worked as a farm hand for a while, and then started farming on his own. John married Henrietta Van Maanen on February 26, 1941 in Rock Valley. Together they farmed northwest of Rock Valley until 1981, at which time John and Henrietta retired to Rock Valley. John continued to work on the farm in his spare time for many years. John was a lifelong member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the Council as Deacon and Elder. He always had time for his neighbors and friends, both in helping them and visiting them. He often spent his evenings reading books and novels, usually concentrating on books of all the wars our country was involved in. John enjoyed his family and shared a real appreciation when his children and grandchildren visited him.
Survivors include one daughter, Eldine (John) Den Boer of Dell Rapids, SD; two sons, Roger (Hilaine) Kempema, Norman (Deb) Kempema all of Rock Valley; one brother Herman (Henrietta) Kempema of Rock Valley; 10 grandchildren, Barb Kriens, Laura Vortherms, Kevin Den Boer, Douglas Kempema, Cassandra Ping, Joshua Kempema, Sara Nieuwsma, Jillian Blankespoor, Meghan Kempema, Taylor Kempema; 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Henrietta who died December 25, 1983, John was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Charlie, Ernest, and Clarence; four sisters, Jennie Kooistra, Frieda Groeneweg, Fannie Kooistra, and Jeanette Van Maanen.
Rock Valley, IA: John Kempema, 95, of Rock Valley, died Saturday November 5, 2005 at Hegg Memorial Hospital, Rock Valley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 am Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley. Burial at Valley View Cemetery. Rev. Paul Bakker will be officiating. Visitation with family will be 7-8 pm Monday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley.
John was born August 29, 1910 in Rock Valley, son of Riemer and Hermina (Vedders) Kempema. As a child he lived with his parents on farms around Sioux County, and attended rural-county schools. In 1936, he ventured to California working 1 year at General Motors. He returned to the Rock Valley area, worked as a farm hand for a while, and then started farming on his own. John married Henrietta Van Maanen on February 26, 1941 in Rock Valley. Together they farmed northwest of Rock Valley until 1981, at which time John and Henrietta retired to Rock Valley. John continued to work on the farm in his spare time for many years. John was a lifelong member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the Council as Deacon and Elder. He always had time for his neighbors and friends, both in helping them and visiting them. He often spent his evenings reading books and novels, usually concentrating on books of all the wars our country was involved in. John enjoyed his family and shared a real appreciation when his children and grandchildren visited him.
Survivors include one daughter, Eldine (John) Den Boer of Dell Rapids, SD; two sons, Roger (Hilaine) Kempema, Norman (Deb) Kempema all of Rock Valley; one brother Herman (Henrietta) Kempema of Rock Valley; 10 grandchildren, Barb Kriens, Laura Vortherms, Kevin Den Boer, Douglas Kempema, Cassandra Ping, Joshua Kempema, Sara Nieuwsma, Jillian Blankespoor, Meghan Kempema, Taylor Kempema; 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Henrietta who died December 25, 1983, John was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Charlie, Ernest, and Clarence; four sisters, Jennie Kooistra, Frieda Groeneweg, Fannie Kooistra, and Jeanette Van Maanen.
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