Loving husband and father Richard William Kampfer passed away on August 18, 2023 after an extended struggle with health issues. Richard was 73 and was surrounded by loving family members when he peacefully passed.
Richard was born to Richard Henry and Lois Ellen Kampfer on September 29, 1949 in St. Paul, Minnesota. A member of the church from a very young age, Richard participated in a variety of youth activities and the congregational choir at his family’s church. He attended Bemidji State College, graduating in 1971 with a degree in English and History. While in college, he met the love of his life Carol Mae Eisenmenger, and they were married in June 1970.
After graduation, Richard and Carol went to teach school in Australia for two years. Upon returning to the states, he continued as a teacher for a few years and then went into the hospitality industry. They welcomed a daughter, Sarah Ellen, in 1976, and a son, Benjamin Richard, in 1982. They remained in Minnesota until 2016 when they moved to Syracuse, New York, to be closer to Sarah’s family.
Richard was a quiet, reserved Christian who walked the walk of his faith. He participated in the music of the church all his life, with a bright, distinctive tenor voice and an occasional trumpet solo. He was a kind and unassuming man with a heart for the disenfranchised. People who worked for him appreciated his fairness and his sense of humor and were inspired to be their best selves by his example. He would help anybody, anytime, anywhere, without judgement or question. He took great comfort in God’s Word as he neared the end of his life.
Richard joins his parents, his sister Lynne, and his brothers Wayne, Jim, and Steve in Heaven. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years Carol, his daughter Sarah Hamersma (Robert), son Benjamin, and grandchildren Meredith and Lucas. He will also be missed by his siblings Robert, Curtis, Scott, and Wendy and their families, as well as numerous other family members and dear friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at MapleRidge Church in Maple Grove, MN (13400 Maple Knoll Way, 55369) on Saturday, September 16 at 1pm. Due to allergies and travel, in lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.