Miriam A. Kempfe was called to her eternal home on Monday, April 18, 2016, at the Lutheran Good Shepherd Home in Concordia at the age of 96 years--5 days shy of her 97th birthday.
Born on April 23, 1919, on a farm in Mt. Leonard, MO, Miriam was the daughter of Albert Mahnken and Mary Bauer Mahnken. She was baptized on Mother’s Day, May 11, 1919, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mt. Leonard by Rev. W. R. Miessler. Miriam was confirmed at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshall by Rev. Albert F. L. Schroeder on November 6, 1932. She was the only one being confirmed, and she remembered she had to answer every question. Her memory verse was from 2 Peter 3:18: “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”
Miriam graduated from 8th Grade at Shackleford Rural School in May 1933. Even though she did not attend high school, she continued to keep up with the current trends by reading newspapers and listening to the news on the radio. On December 17, 1942, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Blackburn, Miriam was united in marriage to Walter Kempfe of Alma. They were blessed with a long marriage of 64 years. After their two children were born, they transferred their membership to Trinity Lutheran Church and remained faithful members until their deaths.
Before Miriam’s marriage, she was employed as a housekeeper in Kansas City and at the International Shoe Company in Higginsville. After marriage, Miriam was a dedicated farmer’s wife assisting her husband in their dairy farm and large garden. She was an excellent homemaker and loved her children dearly. Walter & Miriam lived on the Kempfe family farm north of Alma until they retired in the fall of 1975 and moved into Alma.
The family members who preceded Miriam in death were her parents, her husband, her daughter, Virginia Lee Sassmann, and her sister, Albertine Brody.
Those who remain to remember Miriam’s love forever are:
Son: Douglas Kempfe and his wife Mary of Alma
Son-in-law: Ronald Sassmann of Raymore
Brother: Clifford Mahnken and his wife Edna of Concordia
Five Grandchildren:
Robin Bishop and husband Rodney of Raymore
Julie Ravasini and husband Joe of Lee’s Summit
Jamie Kempfe of Olathe, KS
Jenise Hepner and husband Wade of Ottawa, KS
Jonathan Kempfe and wife Bethany of Dallas, TX
Six Great-Grandchildren:
Katelyn, Elizabeth, and Andrew Ravasini of Lee’s Summit
Carter, Caleb, and Logan Hepner of Ottawa, KS
Two Step Great-Grandchildren:
Jessica & Nicole Bishop of Raymore
One Sister-in-Law: Velma Kempfe of Higginsville
Many nieces and nephews
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, April 21st at
2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alma
Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral
Clergy ~ Reverend Dr. Kenneth Wesemann and Pastor Marcus Jauss
Organist ~ Barbara Sander
Soloist ~ Elizabeth Ravasini
Pianist ~ Katelyn Ravasini
Flutist ~ Jenise Hepner
She will be buried in the Trinity Cemetery at Alma
Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church
Casket Bearers will be Jonathan Kempfe, Joe Ravasini, Wade Hepner, Rodney Bishop, J.C. Mahnken, Harold Griffel
Condolences may be emailed to the family at: Kaiser-Wiegers@ctcis.net
Kaiser-Wiegers Funeral Home
