Arta Kempema

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA – Arta J. Kempema, 90, of Rock Valley, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at the Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Reformed Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Arta J. Kempema was born April 21, 1928 on a farm southwest of Rock Valley, Iowa, the daughter of Arie and Jeannie (De Vries) Van Maanen. She married John A. Kempema on March 14, 1949 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. They lived on a farm near George, Iowa for 8 years before returning to Rock Valley. Arta taught in a country school for over three years. She worked as a nurse’s aide for twenty-five years at the Valley Manor Nursing Home. Arta later volunteered for hospice for four years and at Valley Manor for four years.

John passed away on April 17, 1993.

Arta was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church and the Ruth Circle. She loved her church and her community of Rock Valley. She enjoyed and was a wonderful baker. Arta loved playing cards and board games with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Harley (Sheryl) Kempema of Burnsville, Minnesota, Jolene (Tom) Kerwin of Monona, Wisconsin, Al (Robin) Kempema of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Stan (Molly) Kempema also of Fort Atkinson, and Norma (Bill) Sebert of Leesburg, Florida; nine grandchildren, Cory Kempema, Jamie Kempema, Aaron Kempema, Zachary Kerwin, Kelsey Hopping, Louisa Kempema, Jocelyn O’Brien, Nathan Kempema, and Daniel Kempema; five great-grandchildren, Rosie Hopping, Simone Kempema, Graham Kerwin, Kian O’Brien, and John Thomas O’Brien; one brother, John (Marvis) Van Maanen of Lakewood, California.

Arta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; grandson, Matthew Kempema; and siblings, Wilmina Winterswyk, Henrietta Kempema, Harriet Bakker, Gerrit Van Maanen, and Margaret Kuiken.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Whispering Heights for their outstanding care for Arta. They request that memorials be directed to the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley.

Visitation with the family

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM ,Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church
1401 16th Street Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

Funeral Service

10:30 AM ,Thursday, October 4, 2018
Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church
1401 16th Street Rock Valley, Iowa 51247