Woodland Village of Suring has selected Bob and Arlene Kempen as residents of the month for May.
Bob was born on Sept. 17, 1921, in Two Rivers and was raised on a farm in Freedom. He joined the U.S. Army and became a welder on submarines and water towers. After leaving the Army, he became a firefighter on the Stockbridge Fire Department. Bob had two sons from a previous marriage when he meet Arlene.
Arlene was born on Sept. 27, 1930, in Two Rivers. Her first husband passed away from cancer. They had one son. Arlene worked as a manager at Kresge Department Store in Two Rivers for many years.
Arlene and Bob were married on Jan. 21, 1961. They raised two children, a son and a daughter. They moved to Lakewood in 1976, where Arlene worked for the Lakewood Ambulance Service as an emergency medical technician. Her most memorable times were when she helped deliver three babies.
Bob continued to work as a welder after moving to Lakewood and worked on many water towers.
For enjoyment they loved to go swimming, fishing on the many lakes in northern Wisconsin, playing cards with their neighbors, having campfires in their backyard and gardening.
Bob said the secret to a long and loving marriage is “to do everything she tells me to do.”
The staff at Woodland Village congratulates Bob and Arlene Kempen.
