Chester Schemper ’49

Chester Schemper ’49 of Oak Park, Illinois, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. Chester was born in Holland, to Harry and Edith (Kooyers) Schemper. He graduated from Hope College and Calvin Theological Seminary. He married Garrietta Petroelje in 1946. Chester served as a pastor in Christian Reformed Church congregations in Allendale, Chicago and Calgary, Alberta, after which he taught at Juan Calvino Seminary in Mexico City. In 1969 he began working for the Bible League in South Holland, Ill., serving as Latin American Coordinator and later as Director of New Translations. In retirement Chester and Garrietta lived in Oak Park, Ill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Garrietta in 2011.

He is the father of Carla and Rev. Lugene Schemper [Erica and Erik Vorhes (Zora, Abram, and Hazel), Emily and Timothy Douma (Esme), Benjamin{deceased}, Mark and Allison (Sylvie), Anna and Ken Hill], Calvin (deceased), Thomas and Susan Schemper (Benjamin, Jacob and Emily, Peter), and Mary Denny (Katrina, Jonathan, Elena). Surviving siblings are Grethel Nykamp; and brother-in-law, Justin Petroelje.

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