Imelda “Mel” May Kempf Wise, 89, passed away Tuesday, December 6th, 2022.
She was born in Louisville on April 16th, 1933 to Marie and Michael Kempf, the youngest of their 5 children. She loved all of her older siblings dearly. who all preceded her in death.
She grew up on Sherry Road in the Bradley neighborhood near Eastern Parkway, and attended Our Mother of Sorrow grade school. She went on to attend Presentation Academy, where she played basketball.
She met the love of her life at the Pieta Club where Don Wise was in charge of organizing dances. They would eventually go on dates to the Gypsy Dance Club at Fontaine Ferry Park. They married in December 1953, and she followed him to Germany while he was in the Army, toting 1 baby, and coming home with two.
She filled her role as wife and Mother like no other, eventually having 4 children. She made lifelong friends through the child-rearing years, and was very creative with holiday decorations, sewing dresses for the girls, learning ceramics, and knitting.
She eventually learned golf to play with Don as they traveled to 4 states in the last years of his career. She loved discovering new cities and reading maps. After returning to Louisville for retirement, she volunteered for many years at the Ronald McDonald House, where she was gracious and cheerful to the visitors. Her constant hobbies were playing bridge, reading, working crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles.
She is survived by her children DeAnn Kirgan, Connie Metzler (Bob), Vennie Brotzge (Joey), and David Wise (Vicki); four grandchildren, Melissa Metzler (Jon Davis), Mary Crae Brotzge, Amanda Schreck (Jason), Leslie Kirgan (Ian Fielding); six great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Donnie Kirgan, and her grandchild, Heather Kirgan Ross.
There will be a memorial visitation at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road, on Friday, December 9th, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Church, 501 Cherrywood Road, at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 10th, 2022. There will be a private burial of her ashes at Calvary Cemetery at a later date.
Expressions of sympathy in Mel's honor may be made to Ronald McDonald House at RMHC.org.