ST. PAUL — Virgil Lempenau went to his heavenly home on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was 101 years old.
Virgil was born Aug. 13, 1923, to William and Mamie (Kahle) Lempenau on their farm near Alta Vista. He enlisted in the Army after graduation and served with the 1208th Quartermaster Corps of the 306th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force in England. After WWII, Virgil returned to Kansas and fell in love with a beautiful violinist named Elizabeth Jane Morse at his church in Alta Vista. They were married on June 13, 1948. He enrolled at Baker University in Baldwin in the fall of 1946 and graduated in May 1950. Virgil also attended Wheaton College for 1 and 1/2 years. His studies were in preparation for entering the ministry.
Virgil and Elizabeth’s four children were born while they lived in Waverly. Virgil worked with the Rural Bible Crusade for 13 years during that time. The family moved in 1965 to Walnut, where Virgil pastored at United Chapel Church, Girard Bible Church and Kimball Bible Church. He also worked as a teacher in Prescott and as a substitute teacher in the Cherokee, McCune, St. Paul, Stark and Galesburg school districts. Virgil’s wife, Elizabeth, passed away on Dec. 13, 2002. Virgil moved in 2006 to Prairie Mission Retirement Village, where he had been volunteering since 2001. Virgil provided pastoral services to the residents of Prairie Mission for 24 years until two weeks before his death.
Virgil leaves behind a legacy of service to God and to others. He has devoted his life to helping others experience a relationship with God. Virgil spent hours each day praying for members of his family and for others. He lived his faith with all of his might.
Virgil is survived by his four children, Michael Lempenau of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Libby Nellsch of Orangevale, California, Dan Lempenau of Modesto, California, and Becky Shanholtzer of McCune. He has very much enjoyed his eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Virgil has taken great pleasure in calling himself “Great-Grandpa Lempenau.” His love and care for his family and others will be greatly missed.
The service was Thursday, May 29, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village. There was an additional service Thursday at United Chapel Church at rural McCune. Burial was in the Girard Cemetery with military honors by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Parsons.
Donations in Virgil’s memory can be made to Prairie Mission Retirement Village, 242 Carroll St., St. Paul, KS, 66771, and may be left at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W. St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.
