Marcella Kamper

Marcella Kamper was born on December 6, 1933 near Doon, Iowa and entered into eternal rest on March 6, 2023 in Ripon, California.  The third of five children born to Cornelius and Alice Gorter, Marcella was raised on family farms in Iowa and then Pipestone County, Minnesota where she graduated from Ruthton High School in 1951.  It was after high school that she met a young immigrant from the Netherlands four years her senior, Cornelis (Case) Kamper at a church function.  He was given the opportunity to relocate to Southern California to milk cows for his cousin, Hubert “Honk” Slegers.  So that they could continue seeing each other, Marcella’s parents brought her to the train station in Omaha, Nebraska at 17-1/2 years old to move to Southern California where she lived with a relative and started her working career.

Case and Marcella’s relationship deepened and on June 17, 1952, they became the first couple married in Third Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower.  Case continued to milk cows for his cousin Honk.  In 1953, Case was drafted into the US Army.  He moved Marcella back in with her parents in Minnesota, and went off to basic training in Kentucky.  After basic training, Case was stationed in Mannheim, Germany.  Case and Marcella were blessed with their first child, daughter Carolyn, in December 1953.  In 1954, Marcella and Carolyn flew to the Netherlands to stay with Case’s brother and sister-in-law, who were farming there, so that she and Carolyn could see Case during his leave time.

After Case’s honorable discharge in 1955, the family settled back in to Southern California.  During this time, they were blessed with five sons: Myron in 1955, Rodney in 1956, Bryan in 1958, Case Jr in 1960, and Scott in 1964.  In June 1958, Honk helped Case buy a herd of dairy cows, thus starting Case and Marcella’s career in the dairy business.  They milked cows in Santa Fe Springs, Los Angeles County until the summer of 1968, when they moved to the Chino Valley in San Bernardino County.  While the children were growing, Marcella was an active housewife and homemaker not only keeping the house in order, but also being involved in the Mother’s Clubs in both Artesia Christian and Ontario Christian Schools, as well as ladies’groups in the Third Christian Reformed Church of Bellflower and First Christian Reformed Church of Chino.  The family’s first major loss came in 1973, with the sudden passing of their firstborn son, Myron.  By grace through faith, the Lord carried the family through such a difficult time.

In 1979, Carolyn’s father-in-law John De Groot offered Case, Marcella, and the family the opportunity to purchase a dairy farm in Riverdale.  It was the first farm and home that Case and Marcella owned.  She was involved as a Coffee Break Women’s Bible Study leader in the First Christian Reformed Church of Hanford.  From 1973 to 1997, the family grew with a son-in-law, four daughters-in-law, and 18 grandchildren, as well as a grandson-in-law.  Case and Marcella were active in the lives of their children and grandchildren, attending various activities, Christian School functions, and many ballgames.  They enjoyed going on trips to visit family and friends in the Midwest and Europe.  In 1996, Case began to experience health problems, and Marcella was his full-time care-giver until he passed on February 13, 1998.

Marcella continued to be active in her church community in Hanford.  In 2015, she moved off of the family farm and the home which she had made for 37 years and relocated to the Beth Haven Home in Ripon, where she could receive care, socialize, and still be near to two of her sons and their families.  She was a joyful member of First Church of Ripon.  During this time, son Bryan passed away in 2019 after an illness.  Once again, the Lord carried her through the loss of another son.

Marcella was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Case, sons Myron and Bryan Kamper, granddaughter Mary Anna De Groot, great-grandson Tate Kamper, parents Cornelius and Alice Gorter, siblings Anna & Ed Vander Velde, Jim & Anna Gorter, Clarence Murray, Joyce & Sam Joekema, in-laws Martin and Geertje Kamper, Case’s siblings Jaap & Jannetje Kamper, Jim Kuiper, Peter Kamper, Tom Bakker, and Pete Gorter.

She is survived by her children, Carolyn & Pete De Groot of Fresno, Rodney & Linda Kamper of Riverdale, Rosemary Kamper of Oakdale, Case Jr & Judy Kamper of Riverdale, and Scott & Tami Kamper of Ripon, 17 grandchildren, 16 grandchildren-in-law, one soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law, 46 great-grandchildren, one soon-to-be great-granddaughter-in-law, sister Lois Murray of Visalia, sisters-in-law Lillian Kuiper of Ann Arbor, MI, Nell Kamper of Ontario, Jo Bakker of Santa Barbara, Hilda Gorter of Pipestone, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Marcella was a faithful Christ–follower her entire life, being born into a Christian home, and passed that legacy of faith in Christ by God’s grace to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She enjoyed supporting the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and being a mentor to incarcerated persons by doing Bible study correspondence through Crossroads Prison Ministries.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 11:00 am at First Church, 305 Boesch Drive, Ripon, CA 95366, followed by lunch at the church.  A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 11:00 am at Oak Grove Cemetery, 19811 Cedar Ave., Laton, CA 93242, followed by lunch at the Riverdale Veterans Memorial Hall, 3085 W. Mt. Whitney Ave., Riverdale, CA 93656.  The Memorial Service will be live-streamed at www.riponfirstcrc.org and then click the "Watch Live" link.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”-Psalm 91:1

Case and Marcella believed in supporting Christian education.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Christian school of your choice.