1953
Robert
2015
Robert Kempel
April 22, 1953 — July 27, 2015
Robert L. Kempel, age 62, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died Monday, July 27, 2015, at home. A funeral service will be held 12:00 p.m. Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Burial will take place in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport, Illinois, with procession led by the Patriot Guard and full military honors by the Mt. Carroll American Legion and the United States Army. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Robert’s memory.
Robert was born April 22, 1953, in Freeport, Illinois, the son of LaVerl and Mary (Cox) Kempel. At 10 years old, Robert built homemade rockets and placed 1st in the State of Illinois Space Program Science Fair. He attended Pearl City Schools with the Class of 1971. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for two tours during the Vietnam War. His first tour was with the 101st Airborne Division, B Company, 101st Aviation Battalion stationed at Camp Eagle, west of Phu Bai, I Corps. The unit was just south of the DMZ and east of the A Shau Valley; both NVA strongholds. His primary job was a door gunner on UH-1B and H model helicopters. He flew 193 combat air assault missions in support of US and South Vietnamese Infantry units. In between those missions they flew special cross border missions into Laos in support of Special Forces or CIA teams. On one of Robert’s missions, his machine gun exploded when rounds cooked off in the chamber because it was hot from continuous firing. He was struck in the face, hands and legs by the exploding brass casings. He received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement on March 24, 1978.
Robert went to Alaska to work, flying for Northern Air Cargo, working on the Alaska Pipeline and he also flew as a bush pilot. He was a graduate of the University of Alaska, Class of 1991. In his free time, Robert enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson.
Robert is survived by his children, Christopher “Junior” Nelson of Anchorage, Alaska, and Katherine Elizabeth Kempel of Boston, Massachusetts; a grandson, Damien; his parents, LaVerl and Mary of Mt. Carroll; two brothers, Kevin Kempel of Wimauma, Florida, and Brian (Marlynn) Kempel of Clearlake Shores, Texas; and two sisters, Debra Kempel-Surette of Freeport, Illinois, and Linda (Pat) Ogara of Chicago, Illinois.
Robert was born April 22, 1953, in Freeport, Illinois, the son of LaVerl and Mary (Cox) Kempel. At 10 years old, Robert built homemade rockets and placed 1st in the State of Illinois Space Program Science Fair. He attended Pearl City Schools with the Class of 1971. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for two tours during the Vietnam War. His first tour was with the 101st Airborne Division, B Company, 101st Aviation Battalion stationed at Camp Eagle, west of Phu Bai, I Corps. The unit was just south of the DMZ and east of the A Shau Valley; both NVA strongholds. His primary job was a door gunner on UH-1B and H model helicopters. He flew 193 combat air assault missions in support of US and South Vietnamese Infantry units. In between those missions they flew special cross border missions into Laos in support of Special Forces or CIA teams. On one of Robert’s missions, his machine gun exploded when rounds cooked off in the chamber because it was hot from continuous firing. He was struck in the face, hands and legs by the exploding brass casings. He received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement on March 24, 1978.
Robert went to Alaska to work, flying for Northern Air Cargo, working on the Alaska Pipeline and he also flew as a bush pilot. He was a graduate of the University of Alaska, Class of 1991. In his free time, Robert enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson.
Robert is survived by his children, Christopher “Junior” Nelson of Anchorage, Alaska, and Katherine Elizabeth Kempel of Boston, Massachusetts; a grandson, Damien; his parents, LaVerl and Mary of Mt. Carroll; two brothers, Kevin Kempel of Wimauma, Florida, and Brian (Marlynn) Kempel of Clearlake Shores, Texas; and two sisters, Debra Kempel-Surette of Freeport, Illinois, and Linda (Pat) Ogara of Chicago, Illinois.
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