Martha J. Kempel, age 61 of Lena, Illinois passed away on Sunday January 3, 2021 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, IL.  She was born on January 11, 1959 in Springfield, IL to Francis and Mary (Koch) Bangasser.  She married Donald Kempel on November 13, 1987 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Freeport. Martha was a graduate of Aquin High School and Maycrest College. Martha's faith and her family were the two things that mattered most to her.  Her three sons, Matthew, Phillip, and William were her world.  Don and Martha were married for 33 years, working alongside each other during the challenging farming seasons, and while raising their boys. Martha took her responsibility as a farmer's wife and a mother whole heartedly.  At an early age, Martha's life was enriched with lots of cousins as they shared carefree days on the farm as well as working together on the farm, which carried forward in her life on the farm with Don and the boys.

Martha is survived by her husband Donald; three sons- Matthew (Emiley Engle) Kempel,  Phillip Kempel, and William (Codi Sandell) Kempel, all of Lena; mother and father-in-law Margaret and Dean Kempel of Lena; brothers-in-law Gary (Amy) Kempel of Lena, and their children, Samantha and Andrew; Keith (Christy) Kempel of Lena, and their daughter Emily; Sister-in-law Anne (Jon) Daws of Lena, and their children, Nick and Ariel; and numerous cousins.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Mark Bangasser.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton, Illinois.

Martha's funeral will be live streamed on Mary Beth Millner's Facebook page, and you can also view a video tribute at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlA8sVW0c5A

A visitation will be from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM on Monday, January 11, 2021 at the Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, Illinois.

Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena, Illinois.

Father Michael Morrissey will officiate the services.

A memorial has been established in her memory.