Richard Kemple

GIBSON CITY – Richard Eugene Kemple, age 80, of Gibson City died at 1:55 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at the Martin Health Center in Bloomington.

His funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the First Presbyterian Church in Gibson City with Pastor Tim Payne officiating. Burial will be in Drummer Township Cemetery in Gibson City. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City and for an hour before the service at the church.

Richard was born in Gibson City at noon on Tuesday as the fire whistle sounded on Jan. 24, 1928. He was the second son of two sons born to Harold Moyer Kemple and Avalon Porter Kemple and resided in Gibson City for the first 44 years of his life.

He graduated from Bradley University, Peoria, in 1950 and married Marilyn Ann Gilmore of Gibson City in July of that year at the First Presbyterian Church where both were members. She survives.

He operated two businesses on Sangamon Avenue, Kemples Kitchen, a family-owned restaurant, and the Kemple Insurance Agency located across from the library. While a resident of Gibson City, Dick was a member of the Lions Club, served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, was on the Moyer Library board when a new library was built, and rescued the swimming pool by establishing a Ford County Red Cross swimming and water safety program in the 1940s when funds were needed for a new filtration system.

He received special recognition for being a part of the beginning of March of Dimes history when it was sponsored by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dick was one of the earliest cases of poliomyelitis diagnosed in Ford County when he was 4 years old. His birthday and President Roosevelt's birthday both being in January were cause of many March of Dimes birthday parties which were carried forth by his son, Rick, who also shared a January birthday.

Many middle-aged men of today remember when Dick was Scoutmaster. There were weeks of tenting, hiking and canoeing at Camp Drake. He was honored with the Silver Beaver award for those years.

It was during a mini Billy Graham Crusade held in Gibson City in 1966 that Dick committed his life to the Lord Jesus, and that decision prompted him to lead numerous Bible studies and prayer groups. He became a board member of Youth For Christ in Champaign-Urbana and led Campus Life Clubs. In 1972 Dick sold the insurance business and took a position with Youth for Christ in Wheaton. Moving on in 1973, he became executive director of the YFC program in Quad Cities where he resided for 10 years in Moline. Prior to retirement, he was a Christian family counselor in Lubbock, Texas, where Marilyn was a territory representative for John Deere Insurance Co..

His last years in Scottsdale, Ariz. gave him sunny freedom in a motorized wheelchair, a place of palm trees and lap swimming. His final church membership was Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, Carefree, Ariz.

Surviving are a son, Richard Eugene (Melinda) Kemple of Golden, Colo.; two daughters, Lori Avalon (Dennis) Stalter of Mansfield, Jody Ann (Martin) Smith of Bend, Ore.; five granddaughters, Molly Kemple, Qristy Smith, Rachel Smith, Jacqueline Smith, Avalon Stalter; and three grandsons, Nathan (Michelle) Stalter, Matthew (Rachel) Stalter and Benjamin Kemple; and three great-grandchildren, Brady, Hope and Grace Stalter.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. H. M. Kemple, Bend, Ore., and a great-grandson.

Richard Eugene Kemple, mostly known as Dick, Dad, and Grampa and Grampa-great is looking down at us today from a heaven he well deserves. He stepped ashore without a limp, full of praise for God who welcomed him with open arms to a place of eternal, perfect peace. As a family we mourn our loss but await the day when there will be a heavenly reunion to celebrate.

Memorials may be made to Youth For Christ.