Daryl Lee Kempainen (September 28, 1959 – December 2, 2023)

Daryl, 64, of Ishpeming, Michigan, passed into eternal glory on December 2, 2023.
He was born and raised in Ishpeming, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Philip and Rosalie (Laituri) Kempainen.  Growing up, he enjoyed sports, fishing, and being outdoors.  Daryl graduated from Westwood High School in 1977 and attended Northern Michigan University where he graduated in 1981.  Soon after graduating college, he made his way to Louisiana to begin a career in the oil and gas industry where he eventually met his beautiful wife, Debbie Byrd Kempainen.  They were married in Alexandria, La in April of 1985 at Baptist Temple Church. Together they had two beautiful children, Jessica and Philip, whom Daryl loved beyond measure.

Daryl made a name for himself in the oil and gas industry across the globe working on oil rigs for several companies such as: Hess Corporation, Transocean, Dubai Petroleum, CNRL, Trident Energy, and more.  He eventually began private consulting as a Drilling Rig Supervisor and traveled the globe from Venezuela, Columbia and Brazil to the Persian Gulf and Hong Kong, to Egypt and Equatorial Guinea, and so many more travels in between.  Daryl never met a stranger, and he made every person feel as though it was fate that their lives were meant to be woven together.  His travels opened him up to countless connections in all corners of the Earth, and his absence will be felt by many friends across the globe.

His family meant the world to him, and he worked tirelessly both at home and abroad to ensure that everyone he loved was taken care of.  He enjoyed countless family trips and spending quality time with his family and grandchildren.  In the end, his family was his entire world and the ultimate reason he worked so hard for many years.

Daryl was preceded in death by his father Philip Kempainen, and his mother-in-law Elaine Byrd, and is survived by his mother Rosalie (Laituri) Kempainen, his wife Debbie (Byrd) Kempainen, his daughter Jessica Duggins (husband Scott) and son Philip Kempainen (wife Bayleigh), his three grandchildren Cole Duggins, Bennett Kempainen, and Collins Kempainen, and his sister Cheryl Kempainen Fowler (Trevor Fowler) (fiancé Tom Williamson).

Daryl's family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Friday July 5, 2024 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming where a Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am with Rev. Timothy Johnston to officiate. A dessert social will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Daryl's obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com.