Arnold Carel Antonie van Kempen
Born 3 March 1923
Died 9 April 2025
Arnold Carel Antonie van Kempen was born 9 March 1923, at Poerworkerto, Java, Netherlands East Indies. He was the sixth of nine children, four girls and five boys. He joined the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army <KNIL> at the age of 17 as the Japanese were becoming aggressive in the Pacific. He fought the invading Japanese military. His artillery unit was decimated and he eventually escaped and hid in the islands until he was captured later in the war and became a POW of the Japanese. After Japan surrendered Arnold fought with the KNIL against the Indonesians during what became the Indonesian War of Independence, 1945-1950. Arnold married Trijntje Anna van der Meulen in 1947. When the war ended in 1950 he migrated to the Netherlands with his pregnant wife and baby girl.
In 1962 Arnold retired from the army as a Sgt.Major and immigrated to California along with his wife, children, and mother-in-law. They settled in Hayward, California. He worked at Montgomery Wards in the carpet warehouse for 16 years and had two jobs until he retired. He then worked in various businesses. He lived with wife in Valley Springs, and Stockton, CA until her death in 2011. They were married 64 years. He later lived with daughter, Joyce and family until his death. Arnold was a positive and encouraging father and grandfather. He was very musical and enjoyed singing in church and playing hymns with his harmonica and guitar. He loved entertaining family. Arnold is survived by his six children, Joyce, Abraham, Roy, Isaak, Arnold jr. and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Per the request of the family, services for Arnold will be held privately through Cherokee Memorial.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the van Kempen family.