Obituary of Orpha Kempf

Orpha Kempf, 99, longtime resident of Iowa City, died Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 1, 2015, at the First Mennonite Church in Iowa City. Following the services there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments in the fellowship hall of the church, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Orpha' s memory to the First Mennonite Church of Iowa City. Orpha' s wishes included that at her death she to be donated for medical research through the University of Iowa. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Orpha was born April 23, 1916, in Parnell, Iowa, the daughter of Emra and Barbara (Schlabaugh) Kempf, the second child of ten children. As a young adult she moved to Iowa City where she lived and worked for the rest of her life, over 75 years. She was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church, she enjoyed quilting and was one who would help anyone in need; which she and Helen Spenler did often! Her family includes two living sisters, Martha Justice of Cedar Rapids; and Olivia Abshire of Colorado; a brother, Lester Kempf of Iowa City and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Alice Kempf; brothers, Russell, Warren, Walter, Wayne, and John Kempf, and her dearest friend, Helen Spenler. A special thank you to Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center of West Branch for helping Orpha during the last two months of her life.