James A. Kempf

James Alfred Kempf, 79, of Appleton, WI, died peacefully in Christ with his son, Matthew, and daughter, Britt, at his side on Sept. 5th, 2025.

Jim was born on Aug. 3rd, 1946 in Fond du Lac, WI to Alfred and Grace (Brukardt) Kempf, both schoolteachers. He was baptized at St. Paul Ev. Luth. Church, where his father was principal of the congregation's day school. In 1960 Jim celebrated his confirmation of faith at Trinity Ev. Luth. Church in Marinette, WI, where his mother was an elementary school instructor.

With an eye to service in the ministry, Jim attended Dr. Martin Luther High School in New Ulm, MN, and then Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, WI. His calling however was to be a teacher like his parents, so after graduation he went on to get his teaching certificate from Outagamie County Teachers College in Kaukauna, WI, where he met his future wife, Ricky Josephine Vander Velden, with whom he would raise two children and share 17 years of marriage and a lifelong, loving friendship.

In 1968 Jim was called by his country and served with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, first at Camp Evans in central Vietnam and later at Phu c Vinh Base Camp in southern Vietnam, where he helped conduct heliborne visual and photographic reconnaissance for Division Headquarters. Years after his time in country came to an end, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin honored Jim by adding his war-related poems and other writings to their collection of Vietnam-era materials.

Upon his return home from Vietnam, Jim earned his BS and MS degrees in education and history from UW-Oshkosh; he taught elementary school in Land o' Lakes, WI, and at Tullar Elementary School in Neenah, WI, where he developed the school's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program; he served as a long-term substitute teacher at St. Paul Ev. Luth. School in Appleton, WI, and was a counselor at two Appleton group homes for troubled boys. He put a capstone on his military service by volunteering and being recognized for his over 500 hours at the Wisconsin Veteran's Home in King, helping other fellow veterans with PTSD. In 1993 he attained his childhood ambition, earning his degree as a Doctor of Theology from Trinity Evangelical Seminary of Florida.

While he was a quiet man at heart who cherished his solitude, he became great friends with his many neighbors and especially with his fellow Vietnam veteran buddies, who coined themselves “The A-Team”: Bud Broussard, Tim Hewitt, and Frank McGinness. He was an incredible “Papa” to his granddaughter, Emily Grace, and spent countless hours with her, making many cherished memories.

In his free time Jim devoted his focus to his lifelong loves of reading- he started every morning with his coffee and Bible study- writing, and listening to classical music, particularly that of Bach and Mendelssohn. An extremely talented pianist and organist, Jim had unofficial permission from several local churches to play their pipe organs to his heart's content.

His writings, focused mainly on history and theology, number in the thousands of typed and hand-written pages, and at the time of his death, he had a personal library of over 2,500 books, many of which had copious notes in the margins or on notes stuffed into the endpapers.

His more lighthearted side was known by those who knew him well. He would often amuse himself and his friends and family by greeting us at his door or showing up for lunch wearing a fake moustache, or wearing a sheriff’s hat and a gold, plastic badge, or other goofy disguises. He would on occasion go shopping with his “invisible seeing eye dog”, wearing dark sunglasses and holding a stiffened leash with a harness but no dog at the end of it, just to get or provide a laugh with a stranger.

We will all forever miss you, your sense of humor, our many great conversations, and most of all, your love.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to the wonderful staff of Country Villa, Freedom, and to the nurses of St. Croix Hospice, and to thank them for the loving and dignified care they gave our father.

We invite you to join us in celebrating Jim's life on Thursday, September 18th, at Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, 930 E. Florida Ave, Appleton, WI. Visition will begin at 9:00 AM, with the service to begin at 11:00 AM and military honors to follow directly outside the church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans (DAV)