Bill Kamps: Good memories for family & friends
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William “Bill” Kamps, 71, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at his residence in Ripon. He was born Sept. 26, 1935 in Ripon, and lived in Ripon his entire life. Bill is survived by his wife of 43 years, Joan Eckhoff Kamps; children, Lynette and Brian Vos, and William and Cindy Kamps of Ripon, and Patricia and Lance Purdy of Pine Grove; grandchildren, Logan and Daniel Vos, William and Michael Kamps, and Sean and Morgan Purdy.

Bill graduated from Ripon Christian School and graduated from Modesto Junior College. Bill served in the United States Navy for two years and was the past president of Ripon Jaycees and Ripon Lions Club. He was the founding member and past president of Spring Creek Golf and Country Club, past member of the Ripon, Cal./Ripon, England gold team, member of the Calvary Reformed Church and past member of Bethany Home Society, past member of the Ripon Fire Department. Bill was an almond rancher for his entire life.*
*Obit materials from the Manteca Bulletin
From The Ripon Bulletin
March 28, 2007
This will be a big hole in my life,” one member of the group, Arvin Boersma, said when I talked to him over the weekend. Kamps, Boersma, Dirk Hofman, Chuck Hollander and Jon Hoff made up the tightly knit group of farmers who first chose Jimco Truck Stop at Highway 99 and Jack Tone Road years ago for their coffee hour – followed years later by Giovanni’s and finally the flying J Truck Stop.

Dirk remembers asking Bill why they ontinued to come to coffee every morn¬ing. "You gotta defend yourself," his friend told him, "or they'll talk about you!"

Bill with his Grandsons - earlier photo
One thing everyone remem¬bers about Bill is that he didn't give up when he was on a mission. And, if you wanted something done, whether it was at Spring Creek Country Club or in the Ripon Lions Club, or at home Bill was the one to ask.

Two young grandsons figured this out early-on when they heard that their grandpa wasn't going to build a pool at his new rural home. They asked to have a private meeting with him and talk about the problem. The boys knew they were asking the right person. They got results!
Nobody didn't like Bill Kamps!
Joan Eckhoff Kamps is the daughter of Bill and Mildred Eckhoff (both deceased)
Created 5/25/2008