John and Catherine were married in Cincinnati Ohio in 1853. Sometime before 1859, they moved to Iowa and opened Kempker’s Family Store in West Point, Iowa.
Walt’s grandfather was born in the family’s home above the store. At the time, John and Catherine’s daughter Teresa and her husband Isadore Link lived several miles west of town. Teresa came and stayed with her parents as the baby was due in February, and there was concern that if she needed a doctor, one could not get to their farm home in time.
The church purchased the building and it became part of Marquette High School. It is now part of Holy Trinity Middle School.
Sherrey
To be able to still see the original building is amazing.