Earl E. Kempke (1923-2018)

Memorial service for Earl E. Kempke, 94, Ellsworth will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Parsons Funeral Home. Mr. Kempke died Monday, Sept. 10, at Good Samaritan Society, Ellsworth Village. He was born Sept. 19, 1923 in rural Lorraine, Kan., the second son of Robert and Myrtle Kempke.

Earl’s eighth grade education was obtained at Ellsworth Co. Public School, District 72, referred to as Canyon School. He grew up on a farm, the place he had been born, with five brothers and one sister. He married Madonna Fern Kempke of Lincoln, Kan. March 6, 1943, in Abilene, Kan., when he was 19 and she was 18.

At age 20, Earl joined the Army to help with the war effort. He was assigned to the European Theater and survived wounding at Kapsweyer, Germany, with Company B, 68th Infantry, Battalion 14th Armed Division of the 7th Army. Back home, Earl was a lifelong farmer and cattleman, and an employee of Ellsworth County Farmers Co-op. Earl’s passions were family, friends, and farming.

Earl and Fern were married 75 years in March of 2018. She survives of the home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Richard, Robert, Floyd, and Merle.

Other survivors include sons, Larry of Lewisville, Texas, David of Ellsworth, Kan., daughters-in-law, Cyndi and Alisa, seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, brother, Howard Kempke, Marquette, Kan., and sister, Melva Howard, Milford, Del.
Internment will be at Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery, Ellsworth, Kan., with Military Honors by Ellsworth VFW and Ft. Riley Honor Guard after the memorial service.

Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to The Ellsworth VFW Post 6485 or Kindred Hospice, in care of the funeral home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.