Ray Kempema

  RAYMOND "RAY" KEMPEMA, age 90, of Worthington, died Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at The Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. He was born May 10, 1927, in Edgerton, to Ray and Anna (DePorter) Kempema. He graduated from Worthington High School. Ray served his country in the United States Army, serving mostly in Japan.

Ray married Beverly Wickstrom on March 8, 1951, in Worthington. The couple lived in Worthington. Ray bought the first Kempema bus in 1946 at the age of eighteen. He owned & operated Kempema Brother’s Bus Service with his brother, Ted. When Ray entered the service, Ted ran the company until Ray’s return. Ray also farmed until his retirement in 2010.

He was a member of the Worthington Christian Reformed Church, serving as a Deacon & Elder. He greatly enjoyed farming and being a driver for the charter bus trips.

Ray is survived by his wife, Bev Kempema, Worthington; four children, Cheryl (Duane) Vahl, Sioux Falls, SD; Bruce (Donna) Kempema, Worthington; Brian Kempema, Worthington; and Roxanne (Roger) Pfarr, Lamberton; eight grandchildren, Megan (Brent) Gray, Adam (Jill) Vahl, Greg (Nicole) Kempema, Chad (Krista) Kempema, Linsey (Ryan) Como, Brianna Kempema, Josh (Kaycee) Pfarr and Joe Pfarr (special friend, Mindy Casey); fourteen great-grandchildren; brother, Neil (Darlene) Kempema, Worthington; and a sister, Julie Borst, Grand Rapids, MI.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Ed, Joe and Ted Kempema.

   Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington; and also one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Funeral will be 10:30 am Friday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington. Burial with full military honors provided by the Worthington American Legion & VFW will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

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