James A. Kempton, Sr.

James "Jim" Arthur Kempton Sr., 86, entered into the arms of his heavenly Father on December 30, 2024, surrounded by his family after a short illness.

 He was born in Superior, Wisconsin, on March 27th, 1938, to Roland and Cecilia Kempton, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister Marge (John) Garin and Jean (late Don) Wallin. He was preceded in death by his brothers Bill, Larry, and sister Rosemary.

 He married the love of his life, Hazel Joy Miksa, on May 2, 1959, who survives in Elida.

 He had 4 children whom he loved deeply, Jim Jr. (Lori), Jeff (Tracy), Dee (late Rob Whitacre), and Kevin (Krista).

 He was the proud grandfather of 11 grandchildren: Josh, Justin, Courtney, Cristofer, Zach, Cody, Tyler, Nick, Kyle, Annie, and Lauren, as well as 12 great-grandchildren: Penelope, Raeleigh, Isabelle, Gabriel, Olivia, Andrew, Ellie, Teddy, August, Zyra, Johanna, and one eagerly awaited addition, Journey. He was also deeply blessed by the love of additional grandchildren, Rob, Jamie, Katherine, and Ethan, along with additional great-grandchildren and the spouses of his grandchildren. 

 He was a dedicated worker and was never afraid to try something new — like the time he started a job as a welder or when he jumped on construction equipment at 16 without prior experience. He was a meat cutter in Aurora, Illinois, where he met his wife, Hazel, who was a cashier. Jim would always choose her register when making a purchase, which eventually led to their nearly 66-year marriage. 

 A natural salesman and entrepreneur, he moved to Lima in 1968, where he owned and operated a water softener business called ServiSoft while simultaneously running a gas station in Lima with his brother-in-law. Later, he sold furniture at Kempton Furniture in Lima. He also worked in sales at Lazarus for many years, ultimately ending his career at Von’s Diamonds & Jewelry, where he retired in 2003 after nearly 18 successful years. After retirement, he continued to stay busy by working a part-time job at Chamberlain-Huckeriede as a driver and greeter. 

 He served over 5 years in the Army branch of the military as a medic and was proud of his service to his country.

 He had a sweet tooth, especially for Hershey’s chocolate, and was affectionately nicknamed “Grandpa Oreo” for always having Oreos and other snacks on hand when you visited. Like his mother, he was a gracious host, always making sure everyone had something to eat and drink whenever they came to visit him.

 He was also a car enthusiast who took meticulous care of every vehicle he owned. His cars were always spotless, free of dirt or clutter, with a strict no-eating-or-drinking rule. He could spend hours browsing through old car listings, dreaming of owning a classic car.

 He was a devoted Cincinnati Reds fan who shared a special bond with his children through their mutual love of the team, often calling to discuss games and players. He was known to bring his baseball glove to the field with hopes of catching a foul or home-run ball, having caught 3 balls total. He proudly displayed his prized balls on his bookshelf along with a signed Jonathan India baseball bat while he played for the Reds. In addition to his passion for the Reds, he loved teaching the game of baseball. He spent many years coaching Little League, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm while guiding his sons and countless other young players.

 When Jim and his family first arrived in Lima, they attended First Baptist Church of Lima. After coming to faith in Jesus, he was never hesitant to share the Gospel with everyone he met. Eventually, the family became members of Cable Road Alliance Church, where he actively served as a Trustee and board member. He was a devoted prayer warrior, spending countless hours praying for those he loved.

 He had a deep love for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and that love was evident to everyone who spent time with him. He never let you leave without a warm hug. Not afraid of speaking about the end of his life, he used those moments to share the love of Jesus with others and how he awaited seeing his Savior. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

 Service will be held on Monday, January 6th, at 12:00 noon at Cable Road Alliance Church with Pastor Richard Jueckstock officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 6th. Funeral arrangements are being facilitated by Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Burial will be a private ceremony at Greenlawn Cemetery in Elida.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Lifewise of Elida (lifewiseallencounty.com/elida), or to a charity of your choice in honor of Jim. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated.