Durward R. "Dory" "Duke" Kempf

Durward R. “Dory” “Duke” Kempf, 94, died Sunday, April 4, 2021 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was born on June 2, 1926 near Staunton, Indiana.  He attended Staunton High School and as a boy and a young man worked for several of the farmers in the area.

He married Helen R. Rector in May 1944 and they were married for more than 70 years when she passed away in 2015.  Together they raised six children. Durward served in the Army from 1944 until 1946. After his military service he worked at a few jobs in the area before beginning his coal mining career at the Chinook Mine in Clay County. After a few years of working at Chinook Mine he was transferred in 1954 to a new mine that was starting near Boonville, Indiana that was named Wright Mine. At the time the mine was building a new stripping shovel which was said to be the largest in the world and he was one of those chosen to go there to work on it. He spent the next 30 years at Wright Mine operating that first stripping shovel and then a second larger stripping shovel that was added later. He loved working and providing for his family. Throughout his time in Boonville he always talked of moving back to his home which was in the country near where he grew up. When he retired in 1985 he left Boonville and returned to near Staunton where he built a home for him and his wife where he has resided since that time.

Durward also enjoyed gardening and farming. He and Helen always had a good sized garden as well as peach and apple trees. Durward also farmed and raised beef cattle for 25 years after his mining retirement. He loved driving the tractor or combine and talking with whomever would ride along with him. He loved the hard work that went along with the farming.

Durward in addition to his wife preceding him in death was also preceded in death by his mother and step-father Myrtle and Earnest Lautenschlager, his two sisters, one brother and a granddaughter, Ashley Hansen.

Durward is survived by his six children, Durward Lee Kempf (Virginia) of Boonville, IN, Diana Hansen of Chicago, IL, Jerry Kempf (Jayne) of Terre Haute, IN, Donald Kempf (Fredonna) of St. Joseph, MI, Ronald Kempf (Terry) of Newburgh, IN, and Yohanna Kempf of Boonville, IN. He also had ten grandchildren, twenty-eight great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time Saturday, April 10, 2021 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25 ^th Street, Terre Haute, IN with Pastor Larry Mathias officiating.  Burial will be in Highland Lawn Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 12:00 - 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on Saturday.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene, 801 Ft. Harrison Road, Terre Haute, IN  47804.