Ruth Penn Kemis 1914-1984

KEMIS, PENN, ROMEY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/1/2012 at 22:12:33

Ruth Kemis
Estherville – Services for Ruth Penn Kemis, 70, Estherville, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Neal Armstrong of the Gruver Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. She died Saturday, Feb. 25, 1984 at her home.

Friends may call at the Henry and Olson Funeral Home in Estherville after 3 p.m. Monday (today).

Ruth Penn was born Jan. 21, 1914 at Omaha, Nebr., the daughter of Robert A. and Ada (Romey) Penn. She graduated from Estherville High School in 1931. After graduation from high school, she was employed as a legal secretary for Attorney James W. Morse for nine years, until his death in 1940. She then was Deputy Clerk of District Court for Irwin C. Nichols until his resignation in June 1945. Ruth was appointed Clerk of District Court and held that position until January of 1953. On Nov. 18, 1949 she was united in marriage with Francis H. Kemis. In 1960 she was employed by the law firm of Fillenwarth and Fillenwarth as a legal secretary where she remained until her retirement in May, 1983.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Church Choir, Iowa Association of Legal Secretaries and Pythian Sisters.

Mrs. Kemis is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Mari Kemis, Ames.

She was preceded in death by her husband on July 13, 1953 and her parents. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 27, 1984)