A note from Jill: Thank you so much for coming. Please check back frequently as I will be posting new information. There are several tabs that organize the site, so you may want to check on each of them.
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A note from Jill: Thank you so much for coming. Please check back frequently as I will be posting new information. There are several tabs that organize the site, so you may want to check on each of them.
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Virgil died accidentally the evening of Sunday, October 16th while working - as he loved to do - on an old vehicle. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 22nd from 11am - 2pm, with service to follow.
Annex (Fellowship Hall) of the Hermitage United Methodist Church
4250 Andrew Jackson Parkway, Hermitage, TN
(615) 883-3918
Everyone who knew him is invited to attend, and we would welcome photos or writings about Virgil at the visitation. These will be collected in an album as a comfort and remembrance for the family. Donations in lieu of flowers for the benefit of his children are welcomed and may be made at remembervirgil@paypal.com or through the "Remember Virgil" account at all First Tennessee Bank locations.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138. 615-889-0361. His remains will rest there at a later date.
The family has been in the Nashville community since 1988 when Virgil's Dad took a job as a pilot with American Eagle, back in the heyday of the hub-and-spoke system, when there was a direct flight from Nashville to London. Virgil graduated from McGavock High School. Mom taught English and Latin at Overton High School full time from 1988 until spring 2011, and still teaches four sections of Latin. Sister Lea started at McGavock High School and graduated from Overton High School, St. Thomas Aquinas, and David Lipscomb. Sister Jill graduated from Vanderbilt Law. Mom and Dad have been regular attendees of the Hermitage United Methodist Church's Sunday School group for many years. Jill was a member of West End United Methodist until moving to Washington DC and is still a member in good standing of the Tennessee bar. Virgil's maternal grandparents have lived with Virgil's parents for several years.
Virgil was born in Portsmouth, VA while his father was in the Navy, and they later lived in England while on exchange with the Royal Navy. In 1974 the family moved to a dairy farm in Wisconsin, then later to a suburb of Milwaukee, and finally to the Nashville area. Virgil was widely recognized as very intelligent but after witnessing an accidental shooting that resulted in the death of one of his closest friends he struggled for a long period with a feeling of futility from the knowledge that life can be snatched away. The bullet had missed him by an inch. He struggled with survivor guilt and only in his 30s was finally able to come to terms with that terrible formative event.
As a farm boy, Virgil enjoyed fixing up all kinds of things. He was very mechanical and fascinated with the physical world, a joy he was sharing with his son Randall. Virgil also was a tremendous artist with the ability to draw wonderful, engaging cartoons. He could reproduce by hand a cartoon he saw in the paper, with no erasures, and it was virtually identical. He took some classes at Nashville Tech, animation classes at Watkins Institute, and attended an intensive graphics course in Vancouver, but a career path through the visual arts just never seemed to work out. Over the years he both drew and fixed up a wide range of cars and motorcycles, as well as difficult do-it-yourself projects.
After starting work in the kitchen at Pizza Hut, one of Virgil's first full times jobs was at the Harvey Machine Company. Later Virgil became a cook, usually in steakhouses, and wherever he went, customers who appreciated his skills would follow. We often prevailed upon him to cook steaks for special family gatherings too. He worked at Waffle House, O'Charleys, Logan's, LongHorn, and Applebee's among others. He always struggled with the swing shifts, irregular hours, limited possibilities for advancement, difficult working environments, and he often followed his colleagues to new locations; others followed him as well. At Applebee's he had another brush with death in 1993 when it was held up after hours. The robbers took him outside, stood him against the wall and attempted to execute him. The gun jammed.
Virgil transitioned into cooking for hotels and became sous chef for the Holiday Inn Select, then later at the Sheraton Music City Hotel. For a time he was called upon to make elaborate gingerbread house displays for Christmas, amazing decorative food displays, and to carve ice sculptures for banquet centerpieces. By that time he was in his 30s and needed a more regular schedule, so he transitioned into hotel maintenance staff. That led to working in the Engineering team of the DoubleTree in downtown Nashville. Upon the advice of a friend he studied for and earned a professional certification in HVAC systems. This allowed him to apply for a position with Cassidy Turley, a large property management company. It seemed at last he had found solid employment and foundation as a parent.
On Sunday Virgil was working on the engine of an old and beloved pickup truck. Virgil often loved oddball and cast off things. He once bought the piranha from a bankrupt pet store because he felt sorry for them. Both of the truck's front wheels were up on ramps, and it was supported by a professional jack. He was last seen by a neighbor about 6:30 pm. It is believed, though we will never know for certain, the jack supporting the truck failed, causing the front wheels to roll backward down their ramps and over the blocks. When this happened, he was under the vehicle on a rolling creeper. He was found with the axle across his heart and chest. The cause of death was asphyxiation.
Virgil did not appear at work Monday morning at his new job, where he was very happy. His coworkers and friends knew this was unlike him, and after multiple calls were not answered, they asked his friend Daryl to check on him. Although his death certificate lists the date of death on the 17th, when he was found and pronounced dead, we believe he actually passed on the evening of Sunday the 16th.
We are thankful he was found by a friend rather than by a child. We are thankful to the neighbors who declined to feed the news media with sound bites. We are thankful to the Hermitage United Methodist church, whose members were already praying for the family of an unknown man even before we ourselves learned of the tragedy. And we are also thankful for Dad's many years as a pilot for American Eagle, which allowed both of Virgil's parents and sisters to fly from Washington DC back to Nashville as soon as we could reach the airport together.
Virgil is survived by his parents, Virgil and Sandy Kempenaar of Hermitage, TN; his grandparents Milton and Shirley Jensen; his sister Lea Kempenaar Beuchler, her husband Jason and daughters Madison and Charlie of Midlothian, VA; his sister Jill of Washington DC; son Randall Kempenaar; daughter Makayla Eischmann; and Tina Eischmann. He is also survived by his Aunt Pam, Aunt Ruby, Uncle Randy, Aunt Margo, and Uncle Blaine, as well as cousins Abby, Elizabeth, Terry, Todd, Dionne, Jason, Devon, Chad, Diana, Joe, and even more numerous second cousins. He was preceded in death by his friend Mike Schultheiss; cousin Scott Douma; uncle Darvin Kempenaar; paternal grandparents Ruth Williams Kempenaar and Dewey Kempenaar; and great Aunt Annie Kempenaar Tissing who at several difficult points came and lived with us to help out.
Announcements
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Latest Announcements:
October 19th 2011
TRAVEL DISCOUNT -- The funeral home we are working with, Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Garden, has a corporate discount for airfare and hotels. If you are coming to Nashville for the service, call 1-800-224-4177 for more details. The funeral home location number is 2351. If you have difficulties, please call the Funeral Home; their phone number is on the main page of this memorial website.
Memorial Wall
Write your condolences or share a memory with your friends and family on Virgil Kempenaar's memorial wall.
In our family, November is one of those months that holds multiple birthdays. Today was my nephew's birthday and tomorrow is my great-nephew's birthday. "Was" and "is" pretty much says it all. Today I choose to celebrate with gifts of precious memories! Tomorrow it will be time for making new memories! The days of your births were indeed "happy" :) Love, Aunt Pam xxoo
Pamela Jensen Stonebraker ,
November 14, 2011
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V You are dearly missed. Thanks for being my friend during high school. Thank you for making our high school days more interesting and entertaining. So glad you were able to enjoy a family and wonderful friends!! I pray that you are in a peaceful and wonderful place. Looking here it is not at all shocking that you touched so many peoples hearts!! I just hope that you knew that you were sooo loved when you were here!! Rest in Peace. Our Friend. Forever.
Jennifer Branch ,
November 04, 2011
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I met Virgil Oct,29 1999, at waffle house,we would later joke that it sounded like the beginning of a bad country song when people asked how we met. I had a 2 year old daughter which he became a wonderful friend to ,and later a great Dad.I remember when he was building a shed Makayla was out there helping any way a little girl could at 3 and a half. We later had a son ,Randall . He was so happy to have a son, and Makayla so happy to be a big sister,she sang a song about it all the way to school ,as she proudly displayed the "I'm a Big Sister ribbon.Virgil and I got a good laugh out of that.We had a lot of good times ,too many to mention. We shared 11 years together ,and although we grew apart as husband and wife ,I still cared very much about him and wished him nothing but happiness. And I was glad to see that over the last year he was happy, spending time with Randall and boy scouts,with going on rides with his friends,or just hanging out with his friends,and just being a great Dad all these thing brought him the most joy. I was very proud of all the things he was achieving. And we (Randall,Makayla and I) are going to make him proud. He will be spoke of often and remembered everyday in everything we do. Mostly with a smile and sometimes with a tear. His stories will be passed down through generations to come,and his spirit will live on.
Tina Baysinger ,
October 24, 2011
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We met young, high school sweathearts. So long ago... Virgil introduced me to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bloom County and Love. The path we shared was only for moments, in what became the rest of our lives. Hearing of his passing stung my heart. Virgil had a grandeur abt him that Im not sure he was even aware of. An amazing person with such a pure heart. Keeping in touch thru phone or facebook in the past years was like meeting up with your long lost best friend. A true confidant with a warm voice. On the high of angles wings he watches over us now, his friends and family. My thoughts and deepest prayers go to all the hearts broken by his loss. Never to be forgotten, never a comparison of. Dearest Virgil. Sue~
Susan June ,
October 23, 2011
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i was so shocked and heartbroken to hear from mutual friends about virgil s tragic and untimely passing.i knew him back in 94 or so ,when we worked at applebees and longhorns(and me at t's winner s circle)across the street.i lost my bestfriend to a shooting and he was so kind and gentle and he filled those shoes(he had known where i was coming from).i would never had made it through that time without his love and support.he would come across the street after longhorn s closed and hang out at my bar,we would slow dance to the righteous brother s or everly bros songs,go riding in the van,share meals,attend parties,visit each others homes,play with his pug.when he got his first harley,frosty,he took me for a ride and out to breakfast,he was in heaven and i clung to him for dear life.we drifted apart over the years and i ve always regretted losing touch,but i ve never lost my memories of him and every minute we spent together,he made me a better person for knowing him.this world will be a much sadder place now.he was a great artist,mechanic,biker,outdoorsman,cook,slow dancer and most of all friend.i m so glad he was able to be a father ,too.my deepest condolences to his son randall and step-daughter mikayla,and his parents ,sandy and virgil sr.,and sisters jill and lea,and all his friends and family.forever in my heart,toni
toni corbin ,
October 22, 2011
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Virgil was my biology partner. I always picked a boy, so I wouldn't have to do any of the yucky stuff. I had no idea what an amazing friend I had made that day...I fell instantly in love with him. When he moved away, I was devastated. We kept in touch, he visited a lot at first...then we drifted apart. Many times I meant to mail his class ring back to him, and I just couldn't. He stole my heart & forever changed me. I will always have a spot in my heart for him. Too many memories to share here, those are mine to keep.
julie ,
October 22, 2011
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I worked with Virgil at Longhorn and he was such an awesome cook, fantastic human being, and dear friend. He was really a GOOD man. He will be missed. He made the world a better place. R.I.P. Virgil! Godspeed old pal, Jennifer
Jennifer Elfrink ,
October 21, 2011
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Unfourtunately I only had the privilidge of knowing Virgil for the last two months of his life. He and I worked side by side at the same building. We had grown close through those short two months. On the Saturday before his untimely passing, he and I had spent the majority of the day shooting our bows at the range. ( He out shot me of course!) We then spent the rest of the evening doing something Virgil and I both enjoy, deer hunting. we had a great time to say the least. Although I only knew him a short time, ( my loss) there was no doubt that he was one of a kind. I will greatly miss the friendship that we had built. May God bless his family!
I can remember trick or treating with our kids one year and the kids giggling as they went door to door. Virgil was standing on the street wrangling the dog while the kids knocked on the door. I have some special memories of our kids playing together in the neighborhood while we sat on our porches chatting and telling stories. Virgil was a loving father to his children and I was always impressed with the ease in which he guided them. I have no doubt that Virgil will continue to guide Randall as he grows up to be a man one day.
Brandy McElroy ,
October 21, 2011
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Once upon a time, my sister Sandy gave birth to three wonderful children, Jill, Virgil and Lea. Their births forever changed me. I became "Auntie Pam." Loving on those 3 kids over the years has been a great source of joy for me. Today, however, my joy has changed to sorrow. Sorrow because my precious nephew, Virgil, has passed away unexpectedly and I just can't get my head or heart around this tragic reality yet. Being thoughtful and tenderhearted was not foreign to my nephew. Neither was being witty and creative. He was a true "gentle" man. From now on, this world will be missing something it didn't even know it was needing. . .my sweet nephew, Virgil Randall Kempenaar II
Pamela Jensen Stonebraker ,
October 20, 2011
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Whatever troubles were in Virgil's heart you wouldn't know of them by the genuine smile that he mostly wore on his face. That smile would light up his eyes and be highly contagious. A welcomed hug never far behind. Never did I see more of that smile than after the birth of Randall. Virgil lived to be a dad. What an example of fatherhood he was for us all. I had the pleasure of knowing Virgil for 15,16 years or so. My husband had the pleasure of meeting him 6 & 1/2 years ago when we first opened our business. He immediately thought of him as one of the nicest guys he'd ever met. I last saw Virgil on Saturday, the day before the accident and 2 weeks prior to that, we had a small cookout at the house of his close friends,Daryl and Christina. My husband David,myself,Daryl,Christina and Virgil. We laughed as we said "Virgil can cook and we can eat." We almost didn't get to spend that time together,Virgil had thought that was the weekend of a Boy Scout camping trip with his son Randall. He had the dates mixed. I cried and cried when I thought about never seeing that smile of yours again,now when I think of you it's all I see. Remember me, my dearest friend. Remember me unto the end. May ever blessing be thy lot. I'll only ask forget- me- not. Our prayers and our sympathy go to his beloved family. Mary and David Everett
Mary Taylor Everett ,
October 20, 2011
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Virgil was more than just my neighbor, he was a friend within walking distance. There was never a dull moment when he was around. We created a bond from day one when he described his Plymouth GTX from tires to roof to me, the details and passion he showed while telling me this let me know we were on the same page. As the years passedand the many stories we shared our friendship grew stronger. Virgil well known in our neighborhood around the holidays, any excuse he had to shoot some massive fireworks, was a good day to him. The one thing that set Virgil above most in my eyes is the relationship he had with his son, not unlike the relationship me and my father have, if you had never met Virgil, but you saw his mentoring and guidance as a father you knew he was a great man. One in a million you could say. It was just last week that we had talked about the old motorcycle in his garage, I was going to buy it and we were going to ride together. I promise you this we will ride together one day. Everyone that knew you,even for a brief moment, will never forget you. You and your family will always be in my thoughts and prays. I'll miss you, but only for a while we will all see you again.
Troy Raymer ,
October 20, 2011
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The Kempenaar's were like a second family to me when I was growing up. Virgil was, is, and always will be the best friend I have ever had. I will miss him and cherish the countless memories. Until we meet again my brother. R I P.
Tim Radloff ,
October 20, 2011
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It has been since high school that I last saw Virgil. He was a great guy, easy going and fun loving. Hate to hear that he has left us.
Vana Tungsvanich Landreth ,
October 20, 2011
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Little did I know, Saturday night when Christina & I saw Virgil, would be the last time that I would ever see him alive. I told him that I would catch up with him on Sunday or Monday. I wish now that I have gone over on Sunday to see him. Maybe what happened would not have happened if I had of went over Sunday. Virg, was one of my true best friends that I have ever had. You do not run across real true friends along life's path very often and Virg was one of them. You may have a lot of friends, but you are lucky to have one or two true friends in life. Virg & I shared the same thoughts on politics, religion, cars, and many other hobbies & interests. We spent many nights in my garage talking about religion and other avenues of life. We would always talk to one another every day after work and see each other on weekends for a beer or two. Virg helped me in so many ways, by being my best friend, cutting down trees, rebuilding fences, cleaning out ditch lines and eliminating un-wanted pests and would never charge me a dime for any of it, although I tried to pay him. I remember we would have cook outs at the house and he would always be the cook and we would sit up till 2:00 or 3:00a.m. just talking and hanging out. There is so much more I could share about Virg in the 12 years that I knew him. I will truly miss him and will always think about him every day. For he was a true and forever friend. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family & friends. May god’s speed be with you Virg. Daryl Stevens
Daryl Stevens ,
October 20, 2011
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I went to high school with Virgil in West Bend, WI. Although I always called him Vern. That was my silly nickname for him. He was a good friend and a sweet person. Fun and great to hang out with. I always wondered where he ended up and if he was happy. This is a tragedy. We are all a little worse off for having lost such a fun, happy person in this world.
Aimee Canterbury ,
October 20, 2011
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Virgil, May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be ever at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rain fall softly on your fields And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand
Brandon
Brandon Hughes ,
October 20, 2011
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We haven't known Virgil too long but he was an incredible father to Randall. Watching them together at Cub Scout Camp outs was fun to see how much Randall admires him. We just camped out a few weekends ago and they had such a great time together. He will be missed. Our thoughts & prayers are with you during this difficult time.
The Zocco Family, John, Lisa, Christopher, & Evan
Lisa Coleman Zocco ,
October 20, 2011
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Larry and I knwe Virg since 95 when he worked at Longhorn. We have kept in touch over the years. We remember his first HDhe called it Frosty cuz when he got it running it was 30 degrees ouside and he went riding. He was on his way to our house once when he was stopped by the police for wearing his das navy fighter helmet, the cop couldn't give hime a ticket because it was better than a DOT helmet. Our son recently got a shovelhead and he came to the house to check it out, (Frosty was a shovel too). Virg was the kind of person that you could only hope to have as a friend. He lived every moment for his son Randall. Our lives a forever changed and blessed to have had Virgil as a friend. Memories will always bring tears of joy for the great times we were lucky enough to share with him. Prayers for Randall your dad was a great person.
Larry & Kathy Kossa ,
October 20, 2011
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Virg was one of the best peole put on this earth. The kind of friend you could only hope you have in life. We have known him since 95 and have stayed in touch over the years. Many tears and laughs will come from the years of memories we shared. We love you man and our lives are changed now with you not in them. Prayers to Randall.
Larry and Kathy Kossa
Larry & Kathy Kossa ,
October 20, 2011
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Virgil was one of the best, sweetest guys I have ever known. We worked together at Applebee's, O'Charley's, and Longhorns. He taught me how to tell the done ness of a steak by using the back of your hand. Virgil and I kept in touch over the years running into each other in various places around Hermitage. He talked about his son with great pride, our kids are only a few days apart. He was the most laid back person, never any drama...always had a smile and nothing but good things to say and funny stuff to talk about. I loved all of his old cars, that van...oh man, that van! too many memories! "noconomics!" He was just a one of a kind person whose time came way too soon. Virg--I love you man! You're going to missed!
Jana Elkins ,
October 19, 2011
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Virgil was our neighbor for six or seven years. He was an easy-going guy, who enjoyed working outside, working on his motorcycle or cars and absolutely adored his son, Randall. Virgils upbringing by a close, strong, loving, supportive family, was evident in everything he did, every conversation you had with him and in every moment he shared with his son. We've all heard the saying, "anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy". Virgil was that special daddy. In everything he did with his son. He didn't just drive Randall to school, he walked him to school to teach him how to walk and preparing him for walking alone. It's hard to explain to a nine year old, but we all know, he will never walk alone.
Virgil was a role model for my son too.. from shooting fireworks together every year to sharing a mechanic's passion for "all things motorized".. they spent time on hot rods and sharing stories about hot rods and everything in between. We are going to miss his smiling face and easy going nature, but I know, we're also not walking alone.
Our prayers and love go out to all of his family.
Dawn Bowman Raymer ,
October 19, 2011
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I worked with Virgil at Longhorn back in 94. He was such a good guy and always so much fun to be around. He will be missed.
Lori Cushenberry-Pierce ,
October 19, 2011
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Brother, I'm going to miss you. I will always remember the times we shared together. From our trips down the river in a canoe with our friends, our trip to California, talks we had about life and the future, to the pleasure of having you as Best Man at my wedding. I will always cherish those memories. I truly believe that people have friendships like you and I had here and there in a lifetime. I'm sorry that we fell out of touch over the past few years, I guess marriage, kids, and work does that. But, as Spock said to Kirk, "I have been, and always shall be, your friend." Until we meet again, farewell and godspeed Brother. Rod
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand. ~Celtic Blessing
Rod Rodriguez ,
October 19, 2011
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"Was" and "is" pretty much says it all.
Today I choose to celebrate with gifts of precious memories! Tomorrow it will be time for making new memories! The days of your births were indeed "happy" :)
Love, Aunt Pam xxoo