Funeral services for John Kembel, Ritzville druggist and one of the county's most widely-known citizens, were held this afternoon at the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. R. Kirchenman officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery with graveside services conducted by the Masonic lodge. Mr. Kembel died at 7:30 a.m. Sunday after a short illness. He had worked all day Saturday and did not complain of feeling badly, but became ill late Saturday night and was rushed to St. Luke's hospital in Spokane, where he died.
A resident of Ritzville almost continously since his parents moved to the county in 1891. Mr. Kembel was active in many civic and fraternal organization and had a wide circle of friends.
John Kembel was born July 10, 1887 on a farm near Bickleton, Wash., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kembel. In 1891 they moved to a farm near Ritzville, where he was raised. He attended Ritzville high school and graduated in 1905 with the first class to take a complete four year course. Mr. Kembel entered Washington State college the next fall and graduated in 1909 with a degree in pharmacy. He worked about a year for the Rosenoff Drug Co., and then spent 18 months in a Yakima pharmacy. On Oct. 2, 1912, he was married to Miss Marie Ott of Ritzville and returned to work at the Rosenoff Drug Co. When the Rosenoffs sold out, Mr. Kembel accepted a position as manager of the clothing department of the Ritzville Trading Co., and remained in that business two years before returning to the drug store. He obtained an interest in the Ritzville Drug company in 1929 and acquired full ownership with the death of the late Ora Shideler in 1939.
Mr. Kembel served on the school board and on the city council and was a member of the city parks board for 25 years. Always interested in school affairs, he served on the county budget review board since it was established about 10 years ago, up to the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the Ritzville high school alumni association and was serving his second term as president at the time of his death. In addition he was treasurer for a number of years. He was alway an ardent booster of his college alma mater, Washington State college. Mr. Kembel was president of the board of directors of the Ritzville Trading Company for 17 years. Active in Masonic circles, he was master of the local lodge in 1921. He was also a member of the Congregational church.
Besides his widow, he is survived by three daughters, Dorothea, a Red Cross worker at Oak Knoll naval hospital, Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Alfred Coppers of Ritzville and Miss Jacqueline Kembel at home; one son, Sgt. Richard Kembel, stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico; and two brothers, Joe of Ritzville and William of Naples. Idaho.
Local stores closed from 2-3:30 p.m. today for the funeral services.
Ritzville Journal Times September 20, 1945 Sue Gardner & gapwork90.
A resident of Ritzville almost continously since his parents moved to the county in 1891. Mr. Kembel was active in many civic and fraternal organization and had a wide circle of friends.
John Kembel was born July 10, 1887 on a farm near Bickleton, Wash., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kembel. In 1891 they moved to a farm near Ritzville, where he was raised. He attended Ritzville high school and graduated in 1905 with the first class to take a complete four year course. Mr. Kembel entered Washington State college the next fall and graduated in 1909 with a degree in pharmacy. He worked about a year for the Rosenoff Drug Co., and then spent 18 months in a Yakima pharmacy. On Oct. 2, 1912, he was married to Miss Marie Ott of Ritzville and returned to work at the Rosenoff Drug Co. When the Rosenoffs sold out, Mr. Kembel accepted a position as manager of the clothing department of the Ritzville Trading Co., and remained in that business two years before returning to the drug store. He obtained an interest in the Ritzville Drug company in 1929 and acquired full ownership with the death of the late Ora Shideler in 1939.
Mr. Kembel served on the school board and on the city council and was a member of the city parks board for 25 years. Always interested in school affairs, he served on the county budget review board since it was established about 10 years ago, up to the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the Ritzville high school alumni association and was serving his second term as president at the time of his death. In addition he was treasurer for a number of years. He was alway an ardent booster of his college alma mater, Washington State college. Mr. Kembel was president of the board of directors of the Ritzville Trading Company for 17 years. Active in Masonic circles, he was master of the local lodge in 1921. He was also a member of the Congregational church.
Besides his widow, he is survived by three daughters, Dorothea, a Red Cross worker at Oak Knoll naval hospital, Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Alfred Coppers of Ritzville and Miss Jacqueline Kembel at home; one son, Sgt. Richard Kembel, stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico; and two brothers, Joe of Ritzville and William of Naples. Idaho.
Local stores closed from 2-3:30 p.m. today for the funeral services.
Ritzville Journal Times September 20, 1945 Sue Gardner & gapwork90.
Funeral services for John Kembel, Ritzville druggist and one of the county's most widely-known citizens, were held this afternoon at the Philadelphia Congregational church with the Rev. R. Kirchenman officiating. Burial was in the Ritzville cemetery with graveside services conducted by the Masonic lodge. Mr. Kembel died at 7:30 a.m. Sunday after a short illness. He had worked all day Saturday and did not complain of feeling badly, but became ill late Saturday night and was rushed to St. Luke's hospital in Spokane, where he died.
A resident of Ritzville almost continously since his parents moved to the county in 1891. Mr. Kembel was active in many civic and fraternal organization and had a wide circle of friends.
John Kembel was born July 10, 1887 on a farm near Bickleton, Wash., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kembel. In 1891 they moved to a farm near Ritzville, where he was raised. He attended Ritzville high school and graduated in 1905 with the first class to take a complete four year course. Mr. Kembel entered Washington State college the next fall and graduated in 1909 with a degree in pharmacy. He worked about a year for the Rosenoff Drug Co., and then spent 18 months in a Yakima pharmacy. On Oct. 2, 1912, he was married to Miss Marie Ott of Ritzville and returned to work at the Rosenoff Drug Co. When the Rosenoffs sold out, Mr. Kembel accepted a position as manager of the clothing department of the Ritzville Trading Co., and remained in that business two years before returning to the drug store. He obtained an interest in the Ritzville Drug company in 1929 and acquired full ownership with the death of the late Ora Shideler in 1939.
Mr. Kembel served on the school board and on the city council and was a member of the city parks board for 25 years. Always interested in school affairs, he served on the county budget review board since it was established about 10 years ago, up to the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the Ritzville high school alumni association and was serving his second term as president at the time of his death. In addition he was treasurer for a number of years. He was alway an ardent booster of his college alma mater, Washington State college. Mr. Kembel was president of the board of directors of the Ritzville Trading Company for 17 years. Active in Masonic circles, he was master of the local lodge in 1921. He was also a member of the Congregational church.
Besides his widow, he is survived by three daughters, Dorothea, a Red Cross worker at Oak Knoll naval hospital, Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Alfred Coppers of Ritzville and Miss Jacqueline Kembel at home; one son, Sgt. Richard Kembel, stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico; and two brothers, Joe of Ritzville and William of Naples. Idaho.
Local stores closed from 2-3:30 p.m. today for the funeral services.
Ritzville Journal Times September 20, 1945 Sue Gardner & gapwork90.
A resident of Ritzville almost continously since his parents moved to the county in 1891. Mr. Kembel was active in many civic and fraternal organization and had a wide circle of friends.
John Kembel was born July 10, 1887 on a farm near Bickleton, Wash., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kembel. In 1891 they moved to a farm near Ritzville, where he was raised. He attended Ritzville high school and graduated in 1905 with the first class to take a complete four year course. Mr. Kembel entered Washington State college the next fall and graduated in 1909 with a degree in pharmacy. He worked about a year for the Rosenoff Drug Co., and then spent 18 months in a Yakima pharmacy. On Oct. 2, 1912, he was married to Miss Marie Ott of Ritzville and returned to work at the Rosenoff Drug Co. When the Rosenoffs sold out, Mr. Kembel accepted a position as manager of the clothing department of the Ritzville Trading Co., and remained in that business two years before returning to the drug store. He obtained an interest in the Ritzville Drug company in 1929 and acquired full ownership with the death of the late Ora Shideler in 1939.
Mr. Kembel served on the school board and on the city council and was a member of the city parks board for 25 years. Always interested in school affairs, he served on the county budget review board since it was established about 10 years ago, up to the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the Ritzville high school alumni association and was serving his second term as president at the time of his death. In addition he was treasurer for a number of years. He was alway an ardent booster of his college alma mater, Washington State college. Mr. Kembel was president of the board of directors of the Ritzville Trading Company for 17 years. Active in Masonic circles, he was master of the local lodge in 1921. He was also a member of the Congregational church.
Besides his widow, he is survived by three daughters, Dorothea, a Red Cross worker at Oak Knoll naval hospital, Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Alfred Coppers of Ritzville and Miss Jacqueline Kembel at home; one son, Sgt. Richard Kembel, stationed at Albuquerque, New Mexico; and two brothers, Joe of Ritzville and William of Naples. Idaho.
Local stores closed from 2-3:30 p.m. today for the funeral services.
Ritzville Journal Times September 20, 1945 Sue Gardner & gapwork90.
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