CLAIRE ELIZABETH KEMPKER

Claire Elizabeth Kempker, 75, of Taos, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at Capital Region Medical Center.
She was born on July 16, 1935, in Kirksville, Mo., the daughter of the late Victor Leonard and Pearle Hoskins Lavery. She was married on July 30, 1955, in Jefferson City to Donald Herman Kempker who survives at the home. A 1953 graduate of St. Peter High School who spent her early years in Holts Summit, Mrs. Kempker was employed for many years as a key punch operator for several local businesses and state agencies. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos, and enjoyed fishing, horseshoes, cards, playing catch, bowling, and especially loved her children and grandchildren. No matter how fearful she was of bugs, she always enjoyed being in the outdoors and loved telling stories of her childhood.
Other survivors include four sons, Damon (Lana) Kempker, New Bloomfield, Mo.; Douglas (Bev) Kempker, Holts Summit, Mo.; Timothy (Lynne) Kempker, Jefferson City; and Thomas (Brandy) Kempker, Holts Summit, Mo.; and nine grandchildren, Grace, Jacob, Walter, Terry, Tonjia, Tyler, Layne, Trent, and Erich. She was preceded in death by her brother, Victor Lavery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. Wayne M. Boyer officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Taos. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 7319 Route M, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.