Official Obituary of
Kenneth L. Kemp
August 13, 1927 ~ May 11, 2015 (age 87) 87 Years Old
Kenneth Kemp Obituary
Kenneth Kemp
DUKE CENTER — Kenneth L. Kemp, 87, passed away on Monday (May 11, 2015) at Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital following a brief illness.
Born Aug. 13, 1927, in Olean, he was a son of Leon C. and Bertha Eck Kemp. On Sept. 26, 1959, in Erie, he married Carolyn A. Horning, who survives.
Mr. Kemp attended the Eldred Township Elementary School and Academy High School in Erie, and had resided in Duke Center since 1989. Kenneth was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy and later served in Korea in the U.S. Army, where he received a Purple Heart. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years.
He had been employed by the Asplundh Tree Service in McKean County for many years. After moving to Ohio, he was employed by Adams Dry Cleaners in Toledo as manager, worked several years at the Blanchard Tree Co., and for 10 years prior to his retirement, Ken was regional laundry manager for the State of Ohio.
Kenneth was a member of the Maumee (Ohio) American Legion Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars clubs. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans of Toledo, Ohio, and the 40/8 Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and riding four-wheelers, and was a member of the ATV Traction Club and rode with the Ridgerunners of McKean County.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are one son, Ronald (Gisele Lemon) Southard of Crosby; seven daughters, Bonnie (John) Serfass of Chatanuauga, Tenn., Robin (Robert) Hamby of Sulpher, Ky., Kelli (Jay) Christian of Duke Center, Kristine (Ronald) Davis of Northpole, Alaska, Karoline (Gerald) James of Toledo, and Kimberly (Richard) Gurney of Maumee. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and two sisters, Ortha Goodman of Bradford and Ruth Brown of Erie.
Ken was preceded in death by a daughter, Terri Boehm in 2014; and two brothers, Leon Kemp Jr. and Richard Kemp.
Friends may call at the Frame Funeral Home in Eldred on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 4 p.m. with the Rev Gary Sheesley officiating.
The family requests that memorials, if desired, be made to the Otto Township Ambulance; or Duke Center United Methodist Church.
DUKE CENTER — Kenneth L. Kemp, 87, passed away on Monday (May 11, 2015) at Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital following a brief illness.
Born Aug. 13, 1927, in Olean, he was a son of Leon C. and Bertha Eck Kemp. On Sept. 26, 1959, in Erie, he married Carolyn A. Horning, who survives.
Mr. Kemp attended the Eldred Township Elementary School and Academy High School in Erie, and had resided in Duke Center since 1989. Kenneth was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy and later served in Korea in the U.S. Army, where he received a Purple Heart. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years.
He had been employed by the Asplundh Tree Service in McKean County for many years. After moving to Ohio, he was employed by Adams Dry Cleaners in Toledo as manager, worked several years at the Blanchard Tree Co., and for 10 years prior to his retirement, Ken was regional laundry manager for the State of Ohio.
Kenneth was a member of the Maumee (Ohio) American Legion Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars clubs. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans of Toledo, Ohio, and the 40/8 Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and riding four-wheelers, and was a member of the ATV Traction Club and rode with the Ridgerunners of McKean County.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are one son, Ronald (Gisele Lemon) Southard of Crosby; seven daughters, Bonnie (John) Serfass of Chatanuauga, Tenn., Robin (Robert) Hamby of Sulpher, Ky., Kelli (Jay) Christian of Duke Center, Kristine (Ronald) Davis of Northpole, Alaska, Karoline (Gerald) James of Toledo, and Kimberly (Richard) Gurney of Maumee. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and two sisters, Ortha Goodman of Bradford and Ruth Brown of Erie.
Ken was preceded in death by a daughter, Terri Boehm in 2014; and two brothers, Leon Kemp Jr. and Richard Kemp.
Friends may call at the Frame Funeral Home in Eldred on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 4 p.m. with the Rev Gary Sheesley officiating.
The family requests that memorials, if desired, be made to the Otto Township Ambulance; or Duke Center United Methodist Church.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth L. Kemp, please visit our floral store.
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