Henrietta Kempema, 65, of Rock Valley died. Sunday, Dec. 25, in a hosptial in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a brief illness. Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, in the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. The Rev. Roger Bultman officiated. Burial was in.the Valley View Cemetery.
Mrs. Kempema, the former Henrietta Van Maanen, was born April 29, 1918, in Rock Valley, and attended Rock Valley Christian School. She married John Kempema Feb. 26, 1941, at Rock Valley. They farmed in the Rock.Valley area until 1981 when they moved into town.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Roger and Norman, both of Rock Valley; one daughter, Mrs. John (Eldine) Den Boer of Dell Rapids, S.D.; four brothers, Gerrit, John, Henry and Dick, all of Rock Valley; one sister Mrs. Bert (Gertrude) Van't Hul of Rock Valley, and eight grandchildren.
Rock Valley Bee 1984-01-04.
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.
Eldine Ruth Den Boer, 74, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Reformed Church in Dell Rapids. Burial will be in Logan Reformed Cemetery, rural Dell Rapids. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids. Prayer service will begin at 7:00 PM.
Eldine was born on a small farm near Rock Valley, Iowa on March 24th, 1943. The daughter of John and Henrietta (Van Maanen) Kempema, she graduated from Western Christian High School. She married John Den Boer on June 9th, 1964 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. The couple initially made their home in Sioux Falls and moved to Dell Rapids in 1978.
She was an active member of the Dell Rapids Reformed Church where she enjoyed playing the piano and helping with children’s music. Her hobbies included traveling, taking pictures of her friends & family, gardening and of course having coffee with her friends. She was a very caring, thoughtful person who took great pride in having a beautiful home, but above all she valued her many friendships dearly. Although she had many interests, her greatest love was her family and the time she spent with her grandchildren.
Eldine was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Loren Wiese.
Eldine is survived by her husband, John of Dell Rapids; daughter, Barb (Terry) Kriens of Dell Rapids; daughter, Laura (John) Vortherms of Dell Rapids; son, Kevin (Helene) Den Boer of Niceville, Florida; five grandchildren, Janilyn Klein, Macey Kriens, Derrick Vortherms, Kaitlyn Vortherms and Vega Den Boer; two great- grandchildren, Terryn and Korbin Klein. She is also survived by brothers, Roger (Hilaine) Kempema and Norman (Deb) Kempema and brothers and sisters-in-law, Willis (Kathy) Den Boer, Judy Wiese, Darold (Joanne) Den Boer, Peter (Arlyce) Den Boer and Jean (Randy) Zomer.
John A. Den Boer, 75, of Dell Rapids passed away at his home Monday, July 10, 2017. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Friday, July 14, 2017 at Reformed Church in Dell Rapids. Burial will be in Logan Reformed Church Cemetery, rural Dell Rapids. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Prayer service at 7:00 PM Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Eldine; parents and a brother-in-law, Loren Wiese. He is survived by his daughter, Barb (Terry) Kriens of Dell Rapids; daughter, Laura (John) Vortherms of Dell Rapids; son, Kevin (Helene) Den Boer of Hendersonville, North Carolina; 5 grandchildren, Janilyn Klein, Macey Kriens, Derrick Vortherms, Kaitlyn Vortherms and Vega Den Boer; great-grandchildren, Terryn and Korbin Klein. He is also survived by brothers, Willis (Kathy) Den Boer, Darold (Joanne) Den Boer and Peter (Arlyce) Den Boer; sisters, Judy Wiese and Jean (Randy) Zomer and brothers and sisters-in-law Roger (Hilaine) Kempema and Norman (Deb) Kempema.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are directed to Reformed Church or St. Mary Catholic School.