George Russell Kempen

I had sent out an email recently regarding the Kempen family and told of their arrival in 1882 on the ship Nekkar from Germany. As I listed some the descendants of Gerdes and Vendalina Kempen, I wrote of a William Kempen who was born in NY and subsequently moved to Delaware. He & his wife had 2 sons George and William who attended US Army Academy at West Point and the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, respectively. George was killed in action while serving in Korea. However, this family appears to be the wrong one that is related to us. Coincidentally, I have located another William Kempen (1900-1975) who had 2 sons, William and George, too. I have confirmed that this is the correct branch of the Kempen family.

William Theodore Kempen is the son of Folkert George Kempen (1864-?).  By 1920 Folkert and his wife, Emma Kuhne (1866-?), had moved to Rockville Centre, NY. Their son, William Theodore, is listed on the 1920 census residing with them. Folkert was a dealer of cigars. William became a Nassau County police officer and later is listed as a detective. William married Lucy "Lulu" (1905-1989) and they had sons William (1928-1998) and George Russell (1938-1976). Little did any of us know that George (my 2nd cousin twice removed) lived and died as a hero police officer. In 1960, he joined the Nassau County Police Department in his father's footsteps. He was also a member of the US Air Force and appears to have been a reservist through the 1960's.

On November 14, 1976, George was working not far from his home in North Merrick when a call for assistance came from a NYS Parkway Police Officer on the Southern State Parkway. The officer was wrestling with a suspect who had stolen a car when George arrived on the scene. While trying to restrain the suspect the officer's gun discharged striking George as he ran to his aid fatally wounding him. He was survived by his wife, Bernice (1940- ) and an eleven year old son, George (1965- ), who would be my third cousin.

 George R. Kempen

Officer Down Memorial Page - Kempen