Mike Kempf

1926 - 2018

MIKE KEMPF 9/26/1926 9/29/2018 - age 92 Mike is survived by his wife of 44 yrs. Marsha; son Clay; step-daughter Durenda Baker; sister Cyndalee Wahlstrom, and nephew Tim and wife Sue Mulhall. Mike was born in Evansville, IN, September 26, 1926. He is the son of Clem Kempf and Dorothy Hughes. They were divorced, and Mike grew up in Evansville with great-grandparents Henry and Matilda Gottman, and great aunt Lonita Gottman until age 12. His mother Dorothy and grandmother Jenny managed a boarding house in Chicago during the post depression years, and he often visited them during his childhood. At 12 he rejoined his mother and new step-father Norman Wahlstrom in Chicago. Cyndalee was born two years later. Mike was night manager of a movie theater at age 13, and still attended school. The family moved to Culver City, CA where he proved his love of horses when he cleaned stalls at a riding stable just to ride the horses. He also worked with thoroughbreds at Santa Anita, and became a wrangler at one of the movie studios. Mike then tried many trades (not listed in any particular order): he and his wife owned 1/2 of a cowboy caf‚ open for breakfast and lunch; worked as a plumber's apprentice (his father's trade); as an electrician's apprentice; as a Ford service mechanic (while personally driving a Chevy; a gas station manager; and a farrier. While living in Culver City, he met and married Delores Frieze, and they remained together for 20 yrs. During this time he was drafted into the Army, which was a bit ironic as he had been turned down several times while trying to enlist during WWII. Eight months later he was out with a medical discharge. Mike then became the foreman of his step-father's new Wahlstrom Mfg. Co. and began designing wire products which were mass produced, painted and sold. These items became commonplace in society, ranging from hooks for private tool-sheds and hardware stores, to magazine racks and brochure holders, and anything in between. Son Clay was born in April 1956. They lived in Anaheim until they moved to Wildomar in 1965. Mike coached his son in Lake Elsinore Little League for three yrs., and enjoyed the experience so much he continued coaching for several more years after Clay moved on. In his last season, he guided the Lake Elsinore all-star team to their first victory in the Little League World Series local playoffs in many years. Despite being a single parent after 1970 and working full time, the Kempf home was always open to and appreciated as a friendly and conflict-free gathering place for Clay's friends. After his step-father's death in 1972, Cyndalee and Mike operated Wahlstrom Mfg. Co. for 21 1/2 yrs. Mike started dating Marsha Baker shortly after and they married in 1974. Rendi and Donavon (deceased) are her children. They remained together for a remarkable 44 yrs., sharing their love for animals, their combined families, country living, and most of all, for each other. In Murrieta Mike enjoyed the hobby of farming oats on a share crop basis. He always wanted to be a cowboy. At different times we owned horses, cattle, a goat, goose, pigs, chickens, cats and dogs. Mike helped Rendi with her 4H steers, too. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., PO Box1952, Clarksburg, MD, 20871-1952, or to Hospice of the Valleys, (Murrieta, Temecula area), 25240 Hancock Ave. #120, Murrieta, CA, 92562.