Obituary of Calvin Rempfer

Calvin Rempfer, age 88 years, 3 months and 14 days of Menno, SD passed away early Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at the Freeman Regional Hospital, Freeman, SD.  Funeral services will be 2 PM, Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Peace Christian Reformed Church, Menno, SD with Rev. Steve Moerman officiating.  Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery, Menno, SD with Military Graveside Rites by the Rames-Bender American Legion Post 152.  Visitations will begin at 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Friday, September 1, 2017 at Peace Christian Reformed Church, Menno, SD with visitations resuming one hour prior to the service at the church.  The Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  On line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Calvin Rempfer was born May 17, 1929, in Yankton County to William Rempfer and Katharina Olga (Schaeffer) Rempfer. He attended grade school at Jamesville while also working on the farm with his family.

A cute brown-eyed girl named Verlinda Schempp caught his eye. She became his bride on August 24, 1951. Upon returning from their honeymoon, Calvin was greeted with orders from Uncle Sam. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky before his deployment where Verlinda joined him for a time. He served in the Army from November 1951 to November 1953 when he was honorably discharged. He served most of his time in Austria arriving by ship and took trips into Germany.

Calvin and Verlinda welcomed three daughters, Delilah, LaVon, and Cynthia.

Calvin was very active in his church, superintendent of the Sunday School, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir and in Men’s groups.  He was involved with 2-way radio organizations, the NFO, and was on the school board for Peterson #66.  After the weeds were chopped out of the bean field, he would take his family on a yearly week-long vacation. That was his daughters’ inspiration to keep chopping. Lots of Sunday evenings were spent playing cards, eating popcorn and visiting family and friends.

After many years of farming, Calvin and Verlinda moved to Menno where he continued his second career, reupholstering furniture. He reupholstered many a chair, couch, and other types of furniture for his neighbors and friends in the community. Calvin loved doing this and only stopped after his health prevented him from continuing. Calvin and Verlinda enjoyed many bus tours visiting different areas around the country.

A final illness brought him to the hospital again. Even though he was in much pain, Dad and Grandpa could be heard praying for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Calvin and Verlinda celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on August 24th. Following his last illness, Calvin entered into the presence of His Lord and Savior on August 30, 2017. He was very loved by his family and will be greatly missed by them.

Calvin was preceded in death by his parents, William and Katharina Rempfer, his brothers, Edgar and Oscar, his sister Pearl (Bernal) Huber. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Verlinda, daughters, Di (Scott) Keller, Lincoln, NE, LaVon (Bruce) Herrboldt, Rapid City, SD, and Cindy (Ted) Boese, Freeman, SD, 14 grandchildren & 18 great-grandchildren: Sara (Charles) Lofton, (Huck, Isaac, Kate, Seth & Peter), Erin (David) Littleton, (Korbin & Dax), Joshua (Becky) Keller, (Lucas, Ethan & Owen), Abigail Keller, Chelsea (Paul) Honnens, Bethany (Zach) Keeney (Rowen), Micah (SaraJane) Herrboldt (Mihretu, Meskerem, Gemechu), Jon Herrboldt and Erin Berns, Jessica (Gunnar) Olson, (Eisa & Franka), Kaleb Boese, Molly Boese, Olivia Boese, Shelby Boese, Mandy Boese, Katelyn and Karalee Littleton, and his sister, Ruth (Marvin) Roesler, Freeman, SD, sister-in-law, Alvina Rempfer, Yankton, SD, brother-in-law, Bernal Huber, Mission Hill, SD, along with a host of nieces and nephews.