Larry D. Schemper was born October 20, 1955, in Norton, KS to Jerry and Ailene Schemper. He died December 10, 2018, the way he lived, harvesting. He lived his entire life in the Almena and Long Island area. But every summer for the past 53 years, he lived on the harvest run from Texas to the Canadian Border.

His home town was Almena, but harvest home towns include Mott, N.D., Quinn, S.D., Carnegie, OK, and Protection, KS. In Protection, the Schempers felt honored to be treated like one of the community, as Larry had harvested there for over 50 years. He was a graduate of Northern Valley High School.

In 1980, Larry married Cynthia Van Kooten. Together they raised their 3 children, Luke, Leanne, and Laura on the harvest runs. It was with much joy that Larry was able to teach the next generation to harvest. In the last few years, his grandson Alden Bewley has been on harvest with him. He was extremely proud of the fact that his son and grandson started running combine at age 10, just like him.

Larry was a proud member of U.S. Custom Harvester, Inc. from the beginning of the organization in 1983. Larry's passion was harvesting, farming and his family, especially his grandchildren, Alden, Isabelle, and Farryn, who called him Papa. After many years of harvesting others crops, he had the opportunity to buy his own farm, which he loved.

Survivors his wife, Cynthia of the home; son, Luke Schemper of Weinert, TX; 2 daughters, Leanne Bewley & husband, Nick of Alma, NE and Laura Schemper of Kearney, NE; 3 grandchildren; his mother, Ailene Houghton of Phillipsburg; 2 brothers, LaVern & Lonny Schemper, both of Holdrege; 3 sisters, Vernita Roe of Logan, Jeanie Simon of Evanston, WY and Becky Schemper of Norman, OK.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 13, 2018 in the Almena Congregational Church, Almena, KS with Pastor Don Covington and Chance McKinney officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Almena, KS.

Mr. Schemper will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Larry D. Schemper Memorial Fund.