Funeral services were held Saturday, June 8, at the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley, for Henry Kempema, who died June 6, at Hegg Memorial Hospital. Henry Kempema was born July 25, 1898, in New Holland, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reimer Kempema.
He married Antonia Vande Weerd in Rock Valley, Jan 10, 1924. She preceded him in death October 6, 1942. Mr. Kempema was a retired railroad flag man, and for the past four years has made his home at Valley Manor Nursing Home. The Reverend Ralph Ten Clay officiated at the services and interment was at Valley View Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his wife and an infant daughter, Loretta Marie in 1924.
He is survived by three sons, Raymond of Omaha, Nebraska, Harold Alvin of Steamwood, Illinois and Lloyd Dale of Inwood. Six grandchildren; five brothers, Charles, Ernest, Herman, and John, all of Rock Valley, Clarence of Hudsonville, Michigan; four sisters, Mrs. Martin Kooister of Alvord, Mrs. John Kooister of Rock Valley, Mrs. Pete Groeneweg of Hull and Mrs. John Van Maanen of Rock Valley.
Music was furnished by Mrs. George H. Van Beek, organist and a duet by Mrs. Kenneth Kooima and Mrs. James Vander Sluts. Pallbearers were Ray Kempema, John E. Kempema, Willis Kooistra, Bradley Bauman, Robert Vande Weerd and Jake Vande Weerd.
Arrangements were by Porter Funeral Home.
Mrs. Henry Kempema passed away at 1:00 at noon on Tuesday, October 6, 1942 after a brief illness. According to a blood test taken at Sioux City, death was caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Mrs. Kempema had been suffering from diabetes for a long time and was unable to overcome the new disease from which she fell ill on Friday on Friday and passed away on Tuesday noon.
Mrs. Kempema nee Antonia Vande Weerd was born on a farm on a farm in Woodbury County near Anthon, Iowa, on April 20, 1902 and shortly after moved to this vicinity where the family moved onto a farm. She married Henry Kempema January 10, 1924 and to this union were born four children, one a girl died infancy. Three sons are left to mourn her passing: Raymond, Harold Alvin and Lloyd Dale, besides her husband and aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Vande Weerd, Sr.; six brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at the home of the parents and at 2 o'clock at the First Reformed Church with Reverend H.J. Aberson officiating and Reverend H. Colenbrander of Orange City assisting. Pallbearers who bore her casket to the last resting place were Dick Roelofs, Otto Stegeoga, Bert Vanden Berg, Al Harmsen, Frank Vander Sanden and Gerrit Van Maanen. Relatives from Sheldon, Maurice, Hospers, and Alton and other places attended the funeral. Interment was made in Valley View Cemetery.
Lloyd Dale Kempema, 81, of Greeley passed away March 17, 2021.
He was born February 18, 1940 in Rock Valley, Iowa to Henry and Antonia (Vander Weerd)
Kempema where he spent his childhood.
At the age of 2½ his mother died and his aunt and uncle, Martin and Jennie (Kempema)
Kooistra raised him with their children; John, Rich, Marlene, Willis and Harve.
Lloyd received his bachelor's degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and his Master of Education from Colorado State College (UNC).
He married Marcine H. Tilstra on August 25, 1961 in Laverne, MN. Lloyd served in the U.S. Army stateside during the Berlin Crisis before he was honorably discharged. He was a District 6 elementary teacher for many years before retiring. Lloyd taught at both East Memorial and Jackson Elementary, impacting the lives of many students over the years. He loved his family, cherishing time spent with them. Lloyd enjoyed Western books and movies, fishing and wood working. They were the sixth family to join the Fellowship Church as founding members.
Thankful to have shared his life are his wife, Marcine of Greeley, five sons; Kevin of Greeley, Kirk (Machel) of Anchorage, AK, Kyle, Kelly (Jamie) and Keith (Michelle) all of Greeley, six grandchildren; Kayla and Kylie of Anchorage, AK, Katie, Tristan Kempema, Lindsey and Anna Nast all of Greeley, adoptive siblings; John (Arlene) Kooistra of Hills, MN, Rich (Fonda) Kooistra, Marlene (Alvin) VanLant and Willis (Ella Mae) Kooistra all if Inwood, IA and Harve (Florence) Kooistra of Grandville, MI.
He was preceded in death by his siblings; Raymond (Helen), Harold (Nancy) and Loretta Kempema.
Memorial gifts may be made to "Fellowship Church" in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634.
[Source: Adamson Life Celebration Home in Greeley, Colorado]