Leonard Schemper, 97, died Thursday, June 2.
He was born to Lambert and Alice (Rozema) Schemper in Prairie View, Kansas on Nov. 12, 1913. After growing up in Kansas he moved to Long Beach, California where he met and married his wife of 71 years, Ann Boertien. The family then moved to Modesto in 1943 and finally to Ripon in 1954 when he and his brother John purchased den Dulk Hardware which they renamed Schemper's Hardware.
Having settled in Ripon he was active in church and civic affairs. He served as elder and deacon in local Christian Reformed Churches, and was on the boards of Ripon Christian Schools, Bethany Home, Ripon Senior Center, and Ripon Cemetery Association. He was a past president of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce and was chairman of Inland Wholesale Hardware for 10 years.
After retirement he was an active community volunteer. He also enjoyed many activities including camping and bowling and he played golf and pool into his nineties.
Survivors include his wife Ann; daughters Judy (Harold) Groetsema and Annette (Mike) Weintz; sons Robert (Karen) Schemper and Ward (Yvonne) Schemper; eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and sister, Jeanette Meninga of Modesto.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Albert, John, and Henry, and his sisters Henrietta Van Kooten and Carrie Schemper.
Internment was at Ripon Cemetery on Tuesday, June 7 followed with a celebration of life service at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Ripon Christian Schools, 435 Maple Ave., Ripon, CA 95366 or Bethany Home, 930 W. Main St., Ripon, CA 95366.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
June 8, 2011
He was born to Lambert and Alice (Rozema) Schemper in Prairie View, Kansas on Nov. 12, 1913. After growing up in Kansas he moved to Long Beach, California where he met and married his wife of 71 years, Ann Boertien. The family then moved to Modesto in 1943 and finally to Ripon in 1954 when he and his brother John purchased den Dulk Hardware which they renamed Schemper's Hardware.
Having settled in Ripon he was active in church and civic affairs. He served as elder and deacon in local Christian Reformed Churches, and was on the boards of Ripon Christian Schools, Bethany Home, Ripon Senior Center, and Ripon Cemetery Association. He was a past president of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce and was chairman of Inland Wholesale Hardware for 10 years.
After retirement he was an active community volunteer. He also enjoyed many activities including camping and bowling and he played golf and pool into his nineties.
Survivors include his wife Ann; daughters Judy (Harold) Groetsema and Annette (Mike) Weintz; sons Robert (Karen) Schemper and Ward (Yvonne) Schemper; eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and sister, Jeanette Meninga of Modesto.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Albert, John, and Henry, and his sisters Henrietta Van Kooten and Carrie Schemper.
Internment was at Ripon Cemetery on Tuesday, June 7 followed with a celebration of life service at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Ripon Christian Schools, 435 Maple Ave., Ripon, CA 95366 or Bethany Home, 930 W. Main St., Ripon, CA 95366.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
June 8, 2011
