Frederick Kempenaar

Portsmouth, RI - Frederick Kempenaar, 79, of 31 Gibbs Lane, Portsmouth, RI, died Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI.He was the husband of the late Nancy J. Walker Kempenaar. Born in Newport, RI on March 6, 1930, he was the son of the late Esau and Saime Makinen Kempenaar.Mr. Kempenaar served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean Conflict. He took over the family business Boulevard Nurseries and Kempenaars Clambake Club and continued to sponsor the annual USN Command College Clambake for Foreign Officers. Mr. Kempenaar was a member of the North End Club, Honorary Associate Member of the FOP Lodge #21, Elks Lodge #104, and played on the Bocce league at the FOPA. He was past president of the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association and the New England Nurseryman Association. Fred formerly served on the Board of Governors 1985-87 of the American Association of Nurseryman. He was also a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He is survived by his son John Kempenaar of Middletown, RI, his grandchildren, John Kempenaar II and Kristina Kempenaar and several nieces and nephews.He was the brother of the late Charles Kempenaar, R obert Kempenaar, Gloria Kempenaar Bacon and Anne Marie Kempenaar Ashworth.He was the brother-in-law to Jean Kempenaar and Kay Kempenaar.He was the brother-in-law of the late Robert Ashworth, Osmer Bacon, Elizabeth Weiderman, and Axel Weiderman.Mr. Kempenaar leaves several nieces and nephews. Gloria Dunn, Sharon Carter, Carol Kempenaar, Shirley Kempenaar, Rocky Kempenaar, Kathy Sundin, Chris Bacon, Joanne Bacon, Donna Ashworht, Dan Ashworth, Bob Ashworth, and Michael Weiderman.He was the uncle of the late Charles Chuckie Kempenaar, Cindy Bacon and Diana Bacon. His funeral will be held on Friday, February 5, 2010, at 11:00AM, in St. Marys Episcopal Church, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth.Burial will be in St. Marys Churchyard in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010, from 4-8 in the Hambly Funeral Home, Brick House, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport, RI. Donations in his memory may be made to American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886or to the Robert Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.