Henry W. Kempf, 90, of West Bend, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Kathy Hospice in the town of Polk.
He was born on June 22, 1922, in the town of Kewaskum, the son of the late Fred and Anna (Retzlaff) Kempf, and on August 31, 1946, he was united in marriage to Joyce Dean at St. John Lutheran Church in New Fane. Joyce preceded Henry in death on August 27, 2008.
Henry served his country in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. Henry had been selected to participate in the recent World War II Honor Flight but due to health issues was unable to attend. He was a charter member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in West Bend and a member of the West Bend V.F.W. Post 1393. Henry owned and operated Henry Kempf Heating and Sheet Metal for many years.
Those Henry leaves behind to cherish his memory include five children, Diane (Robert) Swanson of West Bend, Sandra (Dr. Mark) Knutson of Dousman, Donna Roos of Fond du Lac, Terry (Sue) Kempf of Evansville and Christine (Glen) Soehrmann of Hubertus; 11 grandchildren, Timothy (Penny) Swanson, Wendy (Michael) Park, Paul (Alissa) Knutson, Amy (Scott) Goetzke, Sherry (Nathan) Downhour, Kim Knutson, Sarah Swanson, Andy Soehrmann, Kaitlyn Soehrmann, Keri Soehrmann and Alyssa Soehrmann; 11 great-grandchildren, Emily, Lorien and Tristan Swanson, Aaron, Daniel and Kara Park, Zachary and Alexander Downhour, Everett, Preston and Griffin Henry Knutson; a brother-in-law, Paul Dean of Kewaskum, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his wife and parents, Henry was preceded in death by a son, Richard; a son-in-law, Eugene Roos; four sisters, Dorothy O’Krusch, Sadie Frank, Irene Uhlmann and Helen Bechler and nine brothers, Otto, Hugo, Erwin, Rudolph, William, Paul, John, Edwin and Frederick Kempf.
Funeral services for Henry were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 462 Meadowbrook Drive in West Bend. Rev. Christopher Raffa officiated and burial followed in Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend.
The Kempf family greeted relatives and friends at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services.
Memorials to a technical college scholarship fund established by the family for a student pursuing a career in the HVAC profession or Kathy Hospice were appreciated.
The Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum was entrusted with Henry’s arrangements.
Henry’s family extended their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Kathy Hospice for the compassionate care provided to Henry.