Harlyn D. Kempema

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA- Harlyn D. Kempema, 79, of Rock Valley, passed away suddenly on Friday, June 9, 2023, at his residence from natural causes.

   Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Keith Sietstra and Chris Van Beek officiating. The service can be livestreamed at https://wwwfaithrv.com. Interment service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Faith Reformed Church with a procession to Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the church. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family.

   Harlyn Dale Kempema was born April 6, 1944, in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Herman and Henrietta (Van Maanen) Kempema. He graduated from Western Christian High School in 1961. Harlyn served in the National Guard. He married Diane De Jongh on April 13, 1965, in Hull, Iowa. They made their home in Rock Valley, Iowa. Harlyn worked at Jim’s Body Shop starting in High School. He worked as a buyer and customer service manager at Hope Haven for 36 years, from 1972 to 2008.

   He was a member of the Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley. Harlyn enjoyed collecting records and CDs. He loved listening to music and keeping his cars and his lawns clean and immaculate. Harlyn’s great joy came from his family, especially as he got older, with times spent with his four grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

   Harlyn is survived by his wife, Diane; two daughters and their families:

   Daughter - Kim and Kelly Blankespoor of Fairview, South Dakota

       Granddaughter - Kelsey and Andy Peterson and their children, Brody and Lennyn

       Granddaughter - Kenzie and Andrew Rathbun

   Daughter - Kristie and Harlan Osterloo of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

       Granddaughter - Morgan and Bryce Heemstra

       Grandson - Sam Osterloo

   Also surviving are Harlyn’s siblings, Glenda and Fred Vollink of Le Mars, Iowa, Wally and Jolaine Kempema of Sioux Falls, Marvin and Lola Kempema of McCormick, South Carolina, Arnold Kempema of Rock Valley, and Curtis and Darlene Kempema of Ventura, California; Diane’s siblings, Vern and Hester De Jongh of Hull and Bev and Dave Wesselink of Newton, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

   Harlyn was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Henrietta; Diane’s parents, Henry and Nellie De Jongh; Diane’s siblings, Marian and John Groeneweg, Norma and Bud Risseeuw, Henrietta and Art Boeve, and Verla and Harold Ten Haken; and a nephew, Barry Vollink.