Garrel G. “Tuffy” Kempf
Garrel Glen “Tuffy” Kempf, age 92, of Berlin, died peacefully at home on Saturday, January 30, 2021.
He was born April 21, 1928, in Poy Sippi, WI, the son of Harold and Mildred McCue Kempf. Tuffy was a 1946 graduate of Berlin High School and served his country in the U.S. Navy. On April 30, 2004, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Chase at United Methodist Church in Berlin.
Tuffy worked at the Poy Sippi Feed Mill, Lawent Iron & Metal and did construction work. He helped organize & found the Poy Sippi Rescue Squad and kept himself busy serving as former Fire Chief of Poy Sippi Fire Department. Tuffy’s love of sports was evident in his 20+ years of playing baseball and 45+ years of bowling. He enjoyed fishing, was a diehard Green Bay Packers fan, a former member on the Poy Sippi School Board and a member at United Methodist Church in Berlin.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two sons, Donald (Brenda) Kempf and Dennis (JoAnne) Kempf; six stepchildren, Richard Fyhrlund, Jerry (Diane) Mevis, James Mevis, Debra Beck, Judith (Rod) Viegut and Jill (Dave) Collar; stepdaughter-in-law, Shirley Fyhrlund; five grandchildren, Matthew (Jackie) Kempf, Jason Kempf, Eric Kempf, Kristy (Derek) Kresal and Sara (William) Hansel; several great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Lee Chase; sister-in-law, Phyllis Jenks; and many nieces and nephews. Tuffy was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Sylvia Kempf and Donna Kempf; sister, Marjorie Commare; stepson, James Fyhrlund; stepdaughters, Vicky Nicholas and Betty Lou Mevis; stepdaughter-in-law, Karin Fyhrlund; stepson-in-law, Peter Nicholas; and brother-in-law, Donald Chase.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, February 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Memorial services will be held at the funeral chapel at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Larry Rieck officiating. Inurnment will be Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at ThedaCare-Berlin, Crossroads Care Center of Weyauwega, ThedaCare at Home, Whispering Pines in Ripon, Agnesian Hospice Hope and Barbola Funeral Chapel. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail card to Barbola Funeral Chapel, c/o Garrel Kempf, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.
Online condolences may be submitted and sent using the form below. You may also email condolences to the family through "barbolafc@yahoo.com". All condolences are private and sent only to the family.