Marvin "Marv" Kemper

Marvin J. “Marv” Kemper, age 80 of Melrose, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at his home in Melrose, Minnesota after a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 1 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Inurnment will be held in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Marvin Joseph Kemper was born March 5,1941 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Bernadine (Austing) Kemper. He graduated from Melrose High School – Class of 1959. He enlisted in the United States National Guard from 1959 to 1963. On July 20, 1963, he was united in marriage to Betty Breth at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose. Marv was an independent bulk milk hauler for 33 years. He enjoyed camping, bowling, watching TV especially Western shows, and going out to eat with Donnie and Bridgett Salzmann, Ervin and Bertha Bueckers, and Shirley Hiltner. He will be missed by many including his dog, Chloe who was by his side when he passed.

Marv was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, American Legion Post 101, Knights of Columbus Council #1633, and a former member of the Melrose Fire Department.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Kemper of Melrose; children, Shannon (Mary Beth) Kemper of Melrose, Stacy (Jess) Roering of Lino Lakes, and Glen (Sara) Kemper of Melrose; seven grandchildren, Wes (Mariya) Kemper, Wyatt (Angel) Kemper, Colton and Nolan Mueller, Benjamin, Max, and Maddie Kemper; two great-grandchildren, Ivy and Banks Kemper; two step-grandchildren, Jesse and Jenna Roering; sisters, Marcella Radermacher of Sauk Centre, Adeline Kemper of Tacoma, Washington, Irene Harmeling of Newport, and Marina Koopmeiners of St. Cloud; and sisters-in-law, Donna Kemper of Bloomington and Dorothy Kemper of Barnesville.

Marv was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers, Viola Evans, Helen Hunt, Richard Kemper, Loretta Didier, Dolores Rasmussen, Dorothy Moorman, and Raymond Kemper; and brothers-in-law, Ed Evans, Ken Hunt, Shorty Didier, Roger Rasmussen, Jerome Moorman, Norman Radermacher, John Harmeling, and Linus Koopmeiners.