Vivian Edith Kempf of Lansing, MI has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved her.
Here is a glimpse of the life she lived, in her family's own remembrance.
The ordinary days are often the ones we miss most.
Vivian Edith Kempf of Lansing passed away May 1, 2026 after a brief stay in hospice. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother and faithful catholic.
Vivian was born June 25, 1932 in Marshall, Minnesota the twin daughter of the late Laurence and Catherine (Hovland) Tegels. When she was a young girl, her father moved the family to Detroit where he was able to find work. There Vivian enjoyed singing in the school choir, swimming and learned to cook and sew. She was not happy when her parents moved the family to Grand Ledge in her junior year of high school. But that's where she met Norm and they would marry in 1955 and be married 69 years making a life together in Lansing. She worked briefly for Cadillac while Norm was in the Navy, then the balance of her life was spent as a homemaker and mother to five children, two grandsons and two great granddaughters. She loved going to lunch with friends, reading, listening to music, doing puzzles, going to the theater, having a glass of wine, and never stopped loving to swim. But most of all she loved her family.
She is survived by her children; Deborah (Don) Myers, Cindy (Sean) Douglas, Norman "Mark" Kempf, and Eric Kempf; grandsons, Chad and Peter Kempf; great-granddaughters, Elizabeth and Victoria; brother, Daniel (Mary Sue) Tegels; and many nieces and nephews. Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; son, Douglas; her parents and siblings, infant brothers Laurence and Lauren; sisters, Kathleen Kucsulain, Rita Tegels, and Frances Baker; brother Dennis Tegels and twin brother Vincent Tegels.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 AM at Cristo Rey Church by Father Vincent Richardson. Rite of Committal will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Grand Ledge. Visitation will be Friday at the Holihan-Atkin-Barclay Funeral Home, Grand Ledge from 5:00-8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:30 PM and Saturday at the Church from 9:00-10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 (https://bit.ly/460WCxD) or Hospice of Lansing - Stoneleigh Residence, 3411 Stoneleigh Drive, Lansing, Michigan 48910 ( https://bit.ly/4ccq6dk).
Share your memories and condolences online at www.holihanatkin.com
