Leon J. “Lee” Schemper

Sheldon, Iowa

Services for Leon J. “Lee” Schemper, age 77, of Sheldon, Iowa who passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center. His celebration of life will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon with Pastor Kevin Muyskens, officiating. A family prayer service will begin at 10:45 A.M.

Burial with military rights will be at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.

Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 P.M. on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sheldon Christian School and or Western Christian High School.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

IN LOVING MEMORY

LEON “LEE” J. SCHEMPER

BORN

January 29, 1948

Sheldon, Iowa

PASSED AWAY

November 26, 2025

Sheldon, Iowa

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Immanuel Christian Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa

Pastor Kevin Muyskens - Officiating

MUSIC

“Statue of Liberty” – Ivan Parker

“Sinner Saved By Grace” – Gaithers & Gene McDonald

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

“How Great Thou Art”

Pianist: Shannon Schreurs

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS

Hannah Lutjens 

Kylie Lutjens 

Abby Schemper

Chandler Vis 

Aidyn Schemper

CASKET BEARERS

Jordan Lutjens 

Kobe Lutjens 

Treyton Schemper

Jacob Vis 

Jarace Schemper 

Kalen Hartbecke

FINAL RESTING PLACE

East Lawn Cemetery

Sheldon, Iowa

Military Honors Presented by:

McGlothlen-Cowie Post of the Sheldon American Legion.

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

Leon Jay Schemper, the son of Vernon Calvin and Harriet (Van Heuvelen) Schemper, was born on January 29, 1948, in Sheldon, Iowa. He attended Sheldon Christian Grade School and graduated from Western Christian High School in 1966. On September 8, 1966, Lee enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. After serving two years, he was honorably discharged on August 15, 1968. In the fall of 1968, he attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, for one year. He then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended Grand Rapids Junior College for one year. Realizing college was not for him 😊 he began working for Byron Center State Bank in Byron, Michigan. After a short career at the bank, he moved back to Sheldon in 1970 and began working at O’Brien County Implement with his father.

On January 15, 1987, he was united in marriage to Judy Uittenbogaard in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Lee was an active member of Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon where he served as elder and deacon and loved singing in the choir. He served on the Sheldon Chamber and Development Board. Lee loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially attending all their activities. He also enjoyed traveling extensively through Europe and spending winters in Florida and summers at Okoboji.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Judy; two children and their spouses, Jodi and Glen Lutjens and Jeff and Jill Schemper; grandchildren, Jordan (Hannah) Lutjens and their children, Sullivan and Vincent, Kobe (Kylie) Lutjens and their son, Ryker, Treyton (Abby) Schemper and their children, Cameron and Lydia, Chandler (Jacob) Vis, Jarace Schemper, Aidyn Schemper (fiancé, Kalen Hartbecke). He is also survived by his siblings, Marcia (Robin) Carlock, Tom (Dianne) Schemper, Jay (Alicia) Schemper; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry (Cammy) Uittenbogaard, Sherri (Kevin) Bornhoft, and Paula (Greg) Sawyer; also, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lee is preceded in death by his parents and great grandson, Griffin Lutjens.