Joyce M. (Sphatt)Kempf, age 83, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed into her Heavenly home with her Lord and Savior at 5:10 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2014, at her home, surrounded by family.
She was born November 17, 1930, in Oshkosh, WI, the daughter of the late Charles and Mabel (Reinke) Sphatt, where she was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. She married Raymon Kempf on July 2, 1949, in Oshkosh where they lived and raised six children. In 1966, they moved to the Pine River area where they farmed. Raymon preceded her in death in 1998 after 49 years of marriage. Joyce continued to live on the farm until moving to Weyauwega in 2009. She loved gardening and taking care of her beautiful flowers, playing canasta, crocheting for the family, playing piano, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her beautiful smile and kind heart will be greatly missed by her family.
Joyce is survived by two sons, Richard Kempf, Fremont and Gregory Kempf, Weyauwega; three daughters, Suzanne (Mitchell) Collar, Weyauwega; Jane (Ronnie) Behm, Appleton; and Sandra Loehrke, Pine River (fiancé, Allan Robbert); a son-in-law, Mark Stuebs, Weyauwega; 12 grandchildren, Wayne (Shirlie) Kempf, Keith (Becky) Loehrke, Ryan (Susan) Stuebs, Janet (Scott) Olson, Ann Collar (Bob), Sarah (Jeremy) Rhone, Paul Collar, Lee (Valerie) Collar, James (Ashley) Loehrke, Jason Behm (Alyssa), Tammy (Chris) Raffen, and Angela (Travis) Powell; great-grandchildren, Madalyn, Elizabeth, Avery and Quinten Kempf, Kyle, Katelyn, Ashley, and Alex Loehrke, Brooke Stuebs, Allison, Jenna and Justin Olson, Shayne and Seth Collar, MaKayla, Kendra and Justin Lenz, Blake Rhone, Emily and Natalie Collar, Allysa and Austin Collar, Bryannah Gonzales and Jaelyn Behm, Hailey, Bryce and Aubry Raffen, Rayah Rausch and Jaxon Powell; three step-grandsons and their families, Todd (Erin) Behm, Craig Behm and Trevor (Jeannie) Behm; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Sphatt, Oshkosh and Ione Ratajczak, Fond du lac; a brother-in-law, Marlyn (Marjorie) Kempf, Fort Atkinson, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Stuebs in 2008, a granddaughter, Amy Beth Loehrke, a great-granddaughter, Alexandra Besaw; a great-grandson, Raymon Kempf; three brothers, Herbert, Richard and Donald Sphatt; two sisters-in-law, Irene Sphatt and Arlien Zblewski; her mother-in-law, Martha (Nowak) Kempf and father-in-law, Ervin Kempf; two nephews, Steven Sphatt and Dennis Roy Kempf.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church, N180 County Rd. A, Waupaca;. Rev. H. William Jordan will officiate. Burial will be in Concordia Cemetery in West Bloomfield. Visitation will be held on Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Lewin Funeral Home, and on Saturday, at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Thank You for being the best mom, grandma and great-grandma we could have ever asked for. Until we meet again, our love goes with you as you meet up with dad and Barb. We love you so much! –Your family.