Donald Herman Kempker, 80, of Taos, Mo., died Monday, December 19, 2011, at Capital Region Medical Center.
He was born on March 29, 1931, in Folk, Mo., the son of the late John Jacob and Mary Feltrop Kempker.
He was united in marriage on July 30, 1955, in Jefferson City, to Claire Elizabeth Lavery who preceded him in death on September 25, 2010.
He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Mr. Kempker was employed for many years as a mechanic with Blackwells Garage and with the Missouri State Maintenance Garage.
He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 35, St. Martins, Mo.; Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2693, Jefferson City; and the Wardsville Lions Club.
Don greatly enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, horse shoes, and woodworking.
Survivors include four sons, Damon (Lana) Kempker, New Bloomfield, Mo.; Douglas (Bev) Kempker, Holts Summit, Mo.; Timothy (Lynne) Kempker, Jefferson City; and Thomas (Brandy) Kempker, Holts Summit, Mo.; nine grandchildren, Grace, Jacob, Walter, Terry, Tonjia, Tyler, Layne, Trent, and Erich Kempker; and one brother, Harold (Marie) Kempker, Jefferson City.
He was preceded in death by one brother Bernard Kempker; and three sisters, Henrietta Nussbeck; Mary Ann Christensen; and Rosalie Siebeneck.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, December 23, 2011, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos, with the Rev. Wayne M. Boyer, officiating.
Burial with military honors will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Taos.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22nd, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos, with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Friday at the church
Memorials are suggested to the Special Learning Center, 1115 Fairground Road, Jefferson City, Mo, 65109.
Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.
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