Joyce Elaine Kemble

HERINGTON -  Joyce Elaine Kemble was born September 28, 1926, at Delavan and died Friday, December 8th, 2017, at the Legacy of Herington at the age of 91.  She was the daughter of John Adam and Eva Wilhelmina (Bruckner) Herpich. 

She graduated from Delavan High School with the class of 1944.  She went to work right out of high school at the Air Base of Herington for several years.  In 1946, her brother Kenneth, his wife Evelyn, and Joyce packed up and moved to Washington and went to work as apple packers.  She returned to Kansas a few years later and met Donald Keith Kemble, while staying with her sister, Maxine.  They were married on February 14, 1949, at the First Christian Church of Herington, and they were baptized later in the year.   They enjoyed gardening, making peanut brittle, and were very active in square dance with the Herington Hoedowners and playing cards.  Throughout her life she held many offices in the church and was an active member of CWF. She was initiated into Esther Chapter #96, Order of the Eastern Star formerly of Herington, in 1955. She held the station of Ruth for eight years, and served as Esther, Martha, Electa, Marshal, and Warder. She received her 50 year pin in 2005 from White City Chapter #421, and was an active member of the Esther Club of Herington. 

She is preceded in death by five brothers: Harold, Orlando, Leodore, Russell, and Kenneth Herpich; four sisters, Gertrude Smithson, Mildred Papenhaus, Frances Dittmeyer,  Maxine Lapham; and her parents.

She is survived by her husband Don, of the home in Herington.  She is also survived by a daughter Debra Barb and husband Robert of Warsaw, MO; a son Kurt Kemble and wife Jerri of Lawrence; grandchildren, Thomas Barb and wife Andrea, Donna White and husband Ryan, Hanna Kemble, Max Kemble, two great granddaughters, Phoebe and Pippa Barb; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 11th, 2017, at 1:30pm at the First Christian Church - Herington, with Rev. Francis Baker, officiating.  Musician for the service will be Donna Barta.  The following will serve as casketbearers; Thomas Barb, Max Kemble, Brett Kemble, Brad Lapham, John Herpich, Wally Herpich, David Herpich, and Ryan White.  Following the service, burial will be at the Delavan Cemetery.  There will be a prayer service Sunday evening, 6:30PM – 8:00PM, at the Zeiner Funeral Home- Herington.  The Eastern Star service will be by White City Chapter #421.

The family requests memorials to the First Christian Church of Herington, or Hospice of Dickinson County; and may be sent in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel,  404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS 67449-3038.