William Dean Kaempfe

William Dean Kaempfe was born to Albert and Clara Kaempfe(Seehafer) in Ellsworth, Kansas on July 14th, 1945. He was the youngest of four children and was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Jerry Kaempfe(Viola), Bonnie Gabel(Darrell) and Mary Alire(Al).

William married Vickie Lynn Campbell on October 18th, 1965 in Sylvan Grove, Kansas. The couple had three boys: Robby Kaempfe(Jill), Darrin Kaempfe(Robyn) and Brent Kaempfe(Dee Ann). They had eight grandkids: Taylor, Madison, Mateo, Remington, Hanna, Abigail, Alexandra, Ashlyn and 5 step grandkids: Ashley, Kristian, Vaughn, Miranda and Jack. They have eleven great grandkids: Weston, Gannon, Collins, Dash, Nellie, Emmett, Sophie, Graham, Violet, Ava and Jadin.

The couple made their home(s) in Goodland, Oberlin and Marion, Kansas. They were married for 54 years prior to Vickie passing away September 19th 2020 after a long battle with cancer.

Bill attended Sylan Grove Elementary School and High School, Graduating in 1964. His family owned and operated a Produce Store and Trucking Company in Sylvan Grove for almost 30 years. After graduating high School, Bill went to Hutchinson Community College and joined the Kansas Army National Guard, serving for four years. William and Vickie moved to Goodland Kansas where they made their home for over a decade. He worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation as an engineer and then started his own construction company in 1974. In 1981, they moved their family to Oberlin Kansas, where he went back to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation and spent the next 31 years with them until he retired in 2012.

During retirement Bill and Vickie became involved in volunteer work in the Marion Community. They also enjoyed doing Tai Chi and spending time taking care of their yard and garden. Bill was an avid Denver Broncos Fan and enjoyed watching games with his family and going to Denver with his boys to watch Broncos games. He loved working on his homes and never had a house that wasn’t “under construction.” He loved telling stories about taking his boys to work with him to help build a fence or shingle a roof and how he often rewarded them with a nutritional lunch of Zingers, Ho-Ho’s and Mountain Dew. Bill loved his “Hot Rods.” Although he was a Dodge and Mopar man, he also had a love for Corvette’s and bought three of them, that he later handed down to his boys. He also spent over a decade rebuilding an old truck that he made into a show car and won a couple of awards at car shows. His truck had everything he loved in cars. A hemi motor and a corvette suspension.

Bill’s true love was his wife of 54 years and he is now back with her, putting out Christmas Decorations and lights for everyone! He was loved by many!!