Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Kempher, Gerald L. "Jerry" July 19, 2013
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com January 14, 2015, 2:06 am

Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Tues. July 23, 2013

Gerald L. "Jerry" Kempher, 102, of Crystal and Zephyr Hills, Fla., died Friday 
evening July 19, 2013 at Masonic Pathways in Alma with his family by his side. 
Jerry was born on July 12, 1911 in Grand Rapids, the son of Elijah and Winnie 
(Lane) Kempher.

Jerry grew up in the Kiddville area and had the nickname of "Kid Kempher". He 
graduated from Belding High School with the Class of 1929. During school he won 
numerous athletic awards. He married Frances Petit in 1931. 

Jerry served in the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy, being 
stationed aboard the USS Aquarius in the South Pacific during World War II.

He worked as a lineman for Consumers Power in Alma retiring in 1972. His 
friends at Consumers always called him "Slick". Jerry loved his hometown of 
Belding. He never missed a Labor Day Celebration and loved visits to the 
Belding Museum. He also spent many years in the Crystal area and had many 
memories of it's early days. He was an honorary member of the Crystal 
Historical Society.

Jerry also enjoyed spending his winters in Florida which always included a lot 
of special times with his family. Jerry was an inaugural member of the Belding 
Athletic Hall of Fame and a life member of the Mt. Gilead Masonic Lodge No. 285 
in Crystal. He enjoyed sports, was an avid golfer, an Eagle Scout and loved 
spending time with family.

He was preceded by his wife, Frances, daughter Sheila Foley-Zerka, son Rick, a 
grandson Grant and special friend Lorraine Wetzel.

Jerry is loved and survived by his daughter-in-law Carol Kempher, seven 
grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

In keeping with his wishes private Masonic services will take place at a later 
date at River Ridge Cemetery, Belding.

Memorials may be given to the charity of ones choice. Funeral care has been 
entrusted to Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home, Belding. Messages of condolence 
may be given at the website of the funeral home, www.jffh.com.



Additional Comments:
Obituary also appeared in The Greenville Daily News - July 22, 2013

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