Sharon K. Kempker, age 66, passed away Saturday, December 8, 2007 at home very peacefully with her loving caring family.
She was born April 13, 1941 in Muskegon, MI to Robert and Donna (Read) Blackmer and she married Harold Kempker Jr. on May 9, 1961 at Elbridge Community Church. Sharon graduated from Hart High School and then got her Associates Degree from Muskegon School of Business.
Sharon worked as a bus driver for Elbridge Schools and Hart Public Schools for 14 years. Then she was a Substance Abuse Counselor for 20 years in Oceana County. After Retiring as a Counselor she then worked Part-time for Council on Aging as a Bus Driver and in the Office for the past 3 years where she really loved everybody.
Sharon was an Avid horse lover. She raised and bred horses for the last 20 years. Sharon was a 4-H leader for many years in Oceana County when her daughters and granddaughters were showing. She was also a member of the Mason County Saddle Club when she started showing horses herself. She was also on the Board of Directors for Mason County Saddle Club. She was also a member of the Cancer Support Group of Shelby. Sharon volunteered for many years for the Lady's Aid at Elbridge Community Church. She is survived by her husband of 46 years Harold Kempker Jr.; her six children, Rick (Deb) Kempker of Hesperia, Rod Kempker of Hart, Rhonda Peters of Hart, Mark Kempker of Hart, Melissa (Brad) Altland of Hart and Kendra (EJ) Unger of Rapid River; sixteen grandchildren, Jamie Barefoot, Kristy Kempker, Holly and Elizabeth Kempker, Taylor, Spencer and McKenna Peters, Dylan, Miranda and Kasey Unger, Kaden, Kolby and Kameron Kempker, Alison and Robert Altland; one great grandchild, Alec Kempker; brother, Robert (Jeanne) Blackmer, sister, Marcia (Dick) Walsworth; special nieces, Carmen, Tasha and Mia Alexander and many other special nieces and nephews. Sharon was preceded in death by her father, Robert Blackmer, mother, Donna Blackmer; nephew, Joseph Blackmer; daughter in law, Mary Kempker; grandson, Vincente Martinez and good friend, Linda Smith. The Funeral Service for Sharon will be held Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 2:00 PM from the Elbridge Community Church with the Rev. Bob Abbott and Rev. Earnest Cummings officiating. Interment in the Elbridge Township Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Tate-King Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be given to the Elbridge Community Church Sound System Fund or to the Oceana County Council on Aging 621 E. Main Driveway Repair Fund.