Henry B. Hempen
Henry
B. Hempen founder of Hempen Funeral Home was born April 15, 1887 in
Irishtown Township, Clinton County, IL son of Henry B. & Catherine (Schiermann)
Hempen. Henry had 2 brothers: Fred John (Monica Hustedde) Hempen &
Herman (Rose Luebbers) Hempen, & one sister: Elizabeth (Paul J.)
Huels. Henry was married to Augusta Mann and had three children:
Marjorie Jane (Charles J.) Mueth, Bernard Philip (Dorothy A. Carson)
Hempen, and Marilyn Elizabeth (Art) Griesbaum. He attended St.
Francis College in Quincy, IL and in his earlier years, Henry was a
teacher, his last teaching position was at Crackerneck School, a
country school near Trenton, IL. He was a member of St. George
Parish, member & past president of New Baden School Board, New Baden
Chamber of Commerce, National Funeral Directors Association,
Illinois Funeral Directors Association, & Illinois Retail Hardware
Association. Henry died August 18, 1972.
Bernard P. Hempen
Bernard,
or Ben, as most knew him, was born March 9, 1919 in New Baden, IL
son of Henry B. & Augusta (Mann) Hempen. He married Dorothy A.
Carson April 24, 1943 in Iowa City, Iowa and together they had seven
children: Philip Allen (deceased), Jane, Carson, Hadley (deceased),
Ann, Mary, & Christine. He served in the US Navy during WWII and
then returned home to join his father in the businesses. Like his
father, Ben was a licensed funeral director and embalmer as well as
a licensed plumber. Ben was active with his father and his son
Carson in the operation of Hempen Hardware and Hempen Funeral Home.
Ben was active in his community and professional associations. He
was a member of St. George Parish & Holy Name Society, Trenton
Knights of Columbus Council 2932, National Funeral Directors
Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Egyptian
Funeral Directors Association, St. Clair County Funeral Directors
Association, American Legion Post 321, New Baden Chamber of
Commerce, a charter member of the New Baden Lions Club, and member
of the New Baden & Wesclin School Boards for 31 years. A licensed
pilot, Ben was a member of the Illinois Pilots Association and the
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. Ben died January 18, 1990.
B. Carson Hempen
Born
July 16, 1947 the son of the late Bernard P. & Dorothy A. (Carson)
Hempen in St. Joseph Hospital, Breese, IL, Carson "grew up" working
around the funeral home and is the third generation funeral director
of Hempen Funeral Home. He married Norma Berndsen January 2, 1968 in
St. Dominic Church in Breese and she is involved in the operation of
the funeral home. They have 2 children Lynn and Patrick, & 4
grandchildren, Lauren, Cameron, Liam, & Elyse. Carson has four
sisters: Jane Harris of Carbondale, IL, Ann (Dr. Jorge) Lopez of
Geneva, FL, Mary (Mark) Goetz of Naperville, IL, and Christine
(Mark) Kengott of Glencoe, IL. His brother, Hadley, preceded in
death in 1972 and a brother, Philip Allen, died in infancy. Norma's
parents are the late Robert and Sophia (Schniers) Berndsen. She has
two brothers: Bob (Mary Agnes Danehy) and Tom (Phyllis Fox)
Berndsen of Breese, and three sisters Rita (Dan) Niemeyer of
Boulder, CO, Jane (Joe) Toennies, & Kathy Arnett both of Breese.
Carson, like his father and grandfather is involved in local
community & professional activities. In addition to being licensed
as a funeral director, Carson is also a licensed insurance producer
and a licensed (inactive) plumber. Carson quickly became known
throughout Southern Illinois for his excellent technical skills and
many funeral homes looked to Carson for assistance. Carson is a
member of St. George Parish,
is a member & former president of the New Baden Chamber of Commerce,
currently serves as chairman of the Friends of St. Joseph Hospital,
member of Breese Chamber of Commerce, National Funeral Directors
Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Egyptian
Funeral Directors Association, St. Clair County Funeral Directors
Association, received the Distinguished Service Award by the New
Baden Jaycees, named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of
1981 by the Illinois Jaycees, & earned the Eagle Scout Award as
a boy scout. Each
year Carson joins local Catholic Fraternal Life members to construct
a house for Habitat For Humanity. A licensed private pilot and
member of the Illinois Pilots Association, Gateway Pilots
Association, & Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Carson enjoys
sharing the experience of flying with others. Contact Carson
Contact Norma
Michael P. Lampe
Mike
was born April 23, 1964, son of David & Margaret (Smerz) Lampe. A
1978 graduate of Germantown Elementary & 1982 graduate of Mater Dei
High School, Mike is a Licensed Missouri Funeral Director and has been with
Hempen Funeral Home since 2003. He is a pre-need funeral counselor
and is attending St. Louis Community College, St. Louis,
MO in the mortuary science program. Mike is also a paramedic with
the Breese Ambulance Service. He served on the Germantown Fire
Department for 16 years (2 years as Chief), and formerly was a
service assistant at Baue Funeral Home, St. Charles, MO. Mike
resides in Germantown and is the father of Andria, Jack, and Jordan. He has two
sisters, Rita (the late Michael) Haukap of Aviston & Chris (Daniel)
Loepker of Bartelso, and a brother, David (Chris) Lampe of Bartelso.
Mike's grandfather Henry Lampe was an Illinois Licensed Funeral Director. Contact Mike
Greeters/drivers/attendants
Norma Hempen, Bob Berndsen, Tom Berndsen, Leora Becker, Jerry Haselhorst, Al "Turk" Kuper