Clarence"Click" Theodore Kemper

(September 26, 1918 - April 21, 2012)

 

Clarence “Click” Theodore Kemper, 93, a longtime resident of the Verboort community died Saturday morning, April 21, 2012 at the OHSU Hospital in Portland

Rosary and Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 30, 2012 at the Visitation Catholic Church 4285 NW Visitation rd in Verboort.

A reception will follow the Mass held at the Parish Hall.

A private graveside service will be held at Visitation Cemetery in Verboort later that day.

Click was born on September 26, 1918 in Kansas City, OR. He was one of seven children His father was Bernard Kemper and his mother was Antoinette (Vandehey) Kemper. He lived his whole life on the family farm in the Verboort community attending school at Visitation Grade School and High School. Click was a ballplayer and had attended Lefty O’Doul’s baseball school in San Francisco, CA with Larry Jansen. The high point of his baseball career happened in 1939 when his team won the Tualatin Valley League Pennant.

He was drafted into the Army in 1941. Click served his country in the European theater and participated in several engagements. He landed at Normandy and fought through the hedgerows. He earned two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for bravery. Click was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Tech Sgt. Following the war Click attended farm school on the GI Bill.

Click married the love of his life, Blanche Vuylsteke, on November 26, 1946 in Verboort, OR. They settled in the Verboort area on a small farm off of Marsh Road. Blanche died in February of 2011.

Click was a farmer and enjoyed raising cereal crops, vegetable and berry crops. As a supplemental income for his growing family he also worked outside the farm, first at the saw mill then for 20 years at General Tire in Portland.

Click had a zest for life like no other. He enjoyed teaching and coaching his sons in youth baseball. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, rock hounding, playing cards and exchanging stories on his patio overlooking his garden.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Blanche, four siblings and his parents.

Survivors include his three children and their spouses; James “Jim” and Laurie Kemper of Gaston, OR, Donald “Don” and Debbie Kemper of Gaston, OR, Michele “Shelly” and Bill Anonsen of Monument, CO, a brother; John Kemper of Cornelius, OR, 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren

The family suggests donations in Click’s name to Priest Retirement Fund.