Jack Kempen

Jack H. Kempen, age 90 of Westfield, was called to the Lord on Friday, August 1, 2008 at Divine Savior Hospital, Portage. He was born on July 25, 1918, Lyons, IL, son of the late Henry and Margaret Kempen. Jack retired to Newton Township in 1977 after 30 years of work as a machinist at Foote Bros. Gear in Chicago, IL. He and his wife, Virginia raised beef cattle and farmed for many years. Jack will be remembered as generous, fair and not afraid to speak up. He was a dedicated member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Westfield where he had many friends and was a student of biblical history.
Jack is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Virginia (nee Bond); two children, Robert Kempen, Madison, WI and Judith Kempen of Milton, FL; two grandchildren, Laura (Mark) Romzek (nee Bobrowicz) and Matthew (Jennifer) Bobrowicz; four great grandchildren, Abigail and Lily Romzek and Alexander and Tatiana Bobrowicz; six nephews, Ralph and Henry Stalesky, Crystal Lake, IL and Bond, Mark, Karl and Warren Schnoor, Fair Haven, MI; numerous loving cousins including the Thomas and Donald Birch families of Chicago, IL and Ironwood, MI and especially dear to him in Pappenburg, Germany, cousin Hermann Kempen and family, Karl Heinz Rhode and Andreas Rhode Families of Hamburg, Germany. He will be sadly missed by family, neighbors and friends too numerous to mention. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Henriette Stalesky of Crystal Lake, IL.
A funeral service for Jack will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Westfield with Vicar Ron Riemer officiating. Interment will be in Westfield East Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Westfield.