Marvin P. Kempen

Age 77, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2003 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. He was born August 11, 1925 in the town of Buchanan, son of Peter and Marie (Coenen) Kempen. He served in the US Marine Corps for 2 1/2 years during World War II, and was honorably discharged as a Corporal. On May 14, 1949, he married the former Lucille Kemps in Kimberly; she survives. Marv spent six years working in paper mills and then operated a poultry farm in Askeaton for over forty years. Marv sold Pioneer Seeds for thirty-eight years and Shaklee Products for many years. In 1993, the couple retired and moved to Kimberly.

Marv’s commitment to his Lord had a profound impact on his life and the life of his family. In 1967 he attended a Cursillo which changed his life. He and Lucille have been involved with charismatic activities, Engaged Encounter, and worked with various TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) programs. After he retired to Kimberly, he joined the parish choir, became involved in RCIA, became a communion distributor, served on the parish worship committee and the Diocesan Pastoral Council. He was a member of the Urban Klister American Legion Post #436 for over fifty years, was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus, and was also involved in 4-H. He was well known for his humor, quick wit, and ability to tell a good story.

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-three years: Lucille Kempen of Kimberly; four daughters: Jeanne (Phil) Dixon of Oconto; Mary Shimek of Manitowoc; Donna (Mike) McMunn of Darboy; Karla (Joe) Stark of Oshkosh; three sons: Tom (Mary) Kempen of Green Bay; Bill (Jackie) Kempen of DePere; Peter (Brenda) Kempen of Wausau. He loved his sixteen grandchildren: Pat, Joe, Ben, Tracy, Corey, Krystle, Matt, Kelly, Tyler, Sarah, Christina, David, William, Jayna, Brianna, and Allison. He is also survived by 3 brothers: Boniface (Ann) Kempen of Hollandtown; Hal Kempen of Bakersfield, California; Jerry (Geri) Kempen of Darboy; four sisters: Lorna (Bill) Van Handel of Darboy; Arlene (Roger) Bruecker of Askeaton; Janice (Ervin) Nettekoven of Winneconne; LaVerne (Dave) Wiegert of Askeaton; sisters-in-law: Sue (Paul) Datta of Appleton; Terese Kemps of Kimberly; Irene (Harvey) VanDeraa of Kimberly; Marlene (Chuck) Green of Webster, New York; Judy (Don) Shaw of Pewaukee; and a brother-in-law: Gerry (Brigette) VanderLoop of Kimberly; as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Marv was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Mary, two brothers Paul Kempen and Dick Kempen; a brother-in-law Ernie Kemps, and two sisters-in-law LaVerne VanderLoop and Frances Kempen.

The funeral liturgy for Marv will be held at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH, 600 E. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly with Fr. Dennis Bergsbaken and Fr. Jim Vanden Hogen concelebrating. Entombment will be in the Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 – 8 PM and again Wednesday at the church from 10 AM until the hour of the service. There will be an American Legion visitation at the funeral home at 6:30 PM Tuesday and a parish prayer and scripture service at 7 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

''Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love'“.

– St. Francis of Assisi

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, Wisconsin 54136
920-788-6202