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Mrs. Kempcke Dead At 92

NATIVE OF GERMANY LIVED IN KENNARD MANY YEARS: MANY SURVIVORS

Mrs. Johanna Kempcke, 92, who remaining wish—to live long enough to see her 11 grandsons and grandsons-in-law home from military service—was almost fulfilled, died last Thursday. Of the 11, only two remain away from home in military service. They are Harold Dean Kempcke, son of Mrs. Paul Kempcke, and Clarence “Bud” Vance, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rosenbaum.

Mrs. Kempcke, for many years a resident of Kennard, died at Dodge County hospital in Fremont following an illness of several months.

Funeral services were held at the Kennard Methodist church Sunday afternoon, the Rev. A.W. Clarke of Arlington officiating. Burial followed in Kennard cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were six grandsons, William and Russell Kempcke, Howard and James Andreasen, Roy and Raymond Rosenbaum.

To American in 1883

As Johanna Dregert, Mrs. Kempcke was born Aug 7, 1853, at Mecklenberg, Germany. She was married there to Henry Kempcke, and they came to America in 1883 with their first three children, settling in Douglas county, Neb. Thirteen years later they came to Washington county. Mr. and Mrs. Kempcke moved to a farm near Kennard in 1912, but since the death of Mr. Kempcke in 1932 his widow had made her home with her children, most recently with Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rosenbaum of Kennard.

Ten children were born to the Kempckes, two of whom died in infancy. Surviving the aged Kennard woman are four daughters, Mrs. Lee Webb of Salem, Ore., Mrs. Gus Kronberg, Mrs. Fred Andreasen and Mrs. Clyde Rosenbaum of Kennard; and two sons, Otto and Charles Kempcke, both of Lyons. The other sons preceded their mother in death, Gus five years and Paul last spring.

Other survivors include 30 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

As a resident of Germany, Mrs. Kempcke was baptized and confirmed as a member of the Lutheran faith.

#2)-20 Dec., 1945 - The Enterprise

OLD SETTLER DIES AT 92 YEARS

Johanna Dregert was born at Mecklenburg, Germany on August 7, 1953.

She passed away at the Dodge County Hospital in Fremont, Nebraska on December 13, 1945 at the age of 92 years, 4 months and 6 days. Prior to going to the hospital she had been very ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clyde Rosenbaum.

She was married to Henry Kempcke on November 9, 1876, and to this union ten children were born, two of whom died in infancy. In 1883 she, with her husband and three children, immigrated to America, settling in Douglas County, then in Washington County where she has since resided.

In 1912 she, with her husband, moved from the farm to Kennard where she resided until 1932 when her husband passed away. Since that time she has made her home with her children.

Two sons, Gus and Paul, preceded her in death.

Deceased leaves to mourn her passing four daughters: Mrs. Lee Webb of Salem Oregon; Mrs. Gus Krongerg; Mrs. Fred Andreasen and Mrs. Clyde Rosenbaum of Kennard; and two sons, Otto and Charles of Lyons; thirty grandchildren and forty one great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church in Kennard on Sunday afternoon, Rev. A. W. Clarke officiating. Interment was made in the Kennard cemetery. Pallbearers were six grandsons of the deceased, William and Russell Kempcke, Howard and James Andreasen, and Roy and Raymond Rosenbaum.

Note: Johanna was buried in the Kennard Cemetery in Blk 3 Lt 20 Sp 3

. ~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~