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- Calmes, Stella
Age 83, formerly of Freedom, died Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at a local nursing home. The daughter of the late Hank and Gertrude (DeBruin) Kempen was born April 15, 1918 in Marshfield. She lived in Freedom for most of her adult life, moved to Arizona to live for 25 years and moved back to the area in 1997. Stella married Donald E. Calmes on July 7, 1940 in Freedom. He preceded her in death on January 28, 1990. Mrs. Calmes was a very talented woman who loved to bake.
Survivors include her 12 children: Jim (Joan) Calmes, Kaukauna Carol (Tom) Leygraaf, Appleton Jean (Dave) Van Schyndel, Oneida John (Sue) Calmes, Kaukauna Henry (Vicky) Calmes, Freedom Jerry (Kandis) Calmes, Black Creek Roseann (Ron) Holewiski, Door County Don (Amy) Calmes, Freedom Mary (Jon) Williams, Suamico Barb (Terri) Calmes, Rhinelander David (Kim) Calmes, Black Creek Patti (Dan) Jansen, Kaukauna 44 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren three sisters: Bertha Schuh, Marion (Francis) Fischer, Grace (Raymond) Vande Hey two brothers: Francis (Marie) Kempen and Robert (Arlene) Kempen. She was preceded in death by her parents her husband a son, LeRoy two granddaughters: Linda Calmes and Sherri Leygraaf and her brothers: Clarence and Raymond Kempen.
Friends may call at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Freedom after 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2002 until time of service. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the church with Father Dennis Ryan officiating. Burial to follow in the Church Cemetery. Ryan Funeral Service of De Pere is assisting the family with arrangements.
The Calmes family extends a special thanks to Century Ridge, San Luis Nursing Home and Dr. Gadsby for all their care and support.
- Stella Kempen was one of eight children in her family. She went through the 8th grade in school and then went to the convent for seven years. She was getting ready to take her last vows to become a nun when she was working in a hospital in Manitowoc with mothers and newborn babies. One day she said, I wish one day a mother would leave the hospital and not take her baby with her, so I could take it home and become a mother. One of the sisters heard her say this and told Stella she needed to go home for the summer and decide if she really wanted to become a nun or have children and become a mother. She met my great-grandpa that summer at a baseball game that was held in a cow pasture in Freedom, WI and decided not to return to the convent. She ended up marrying him and had 13 children. She even wanted to adopt some children after that.
Stella and Donald used to charge all of their food at the local grocery store. Don would go there once a month to pay the bill and the owner of the store would give him a free gallon of ice cream. He would take it home and that was the biggest treat for all the kids. One pail of ice cream for 13 kids, just once a month. They were very excited.
Stella was a really good baker. She would order 100 pound sacks of flour and when they were empty, she would make clothing for the kids out of the material. They didn't waste anything.
Olivia Calmes 2006
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1918 - 2002 (83 years)