Omer Kemp 1932-2002

KEMP, OVERHOLT

Posted By: Webmaster ICGS (email)
Date: 9/27/2002 at 15:37:22

Gay & Ciha Funeral & Cremation Service– Iowa City – (319) 338-1132
2720 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Iowa City Press-Citizen
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Iowa City Dateline:

Omer Jay Kemp, age 70 of 3055 Newport Road, Iowa City died Wednesday, September 18, 2002 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a sudden illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 21, 2002 at the Fairview Mennonite Church rural Kalona, with the Reverend John L. Hershberger officiating. Burial with Military Honors provided by the Coralville American Legion Walter Johnson Post 721 will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Friday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City and after 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the Church. Memorial donations can be made in Omer’s memory to the Fairview Mennonite Church. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Omer’s services and his family.

Omer was born February 15, 1932 in rural Kalona, Iowa the son of Benedict S. and Sarah (Overholt) Kemp. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On August 20, 1958 he married Betty Lou Jensen in Iowa City. Prior to his marriage he worked for Ruan Company in Coralville, following his marriage he worked for a short time for the Forney Company as a local representative, he then started his long career with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, spanning over 37 years. He has also been associated with Stark Brothers Nursery for many years. Omer and his family have farmed for many years in Newport Township of Johnson County.

He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Eagles Lodge, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

His family includes his wife, Betty Lou; daughters, Diane and her husband, Lynn Schrader of Kalona, and Julie Kemp of Aurora, CO; sons, Timothy Kemp of Iowa City, Dale Kemp of Iowa City, and Michael Kemp and his fiancée, Katherine Phillips of Concord, NH; three grandchildren, Brianna Kemp, Brandon Kemp, and Sara Schrader; brothers, Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth Kemp of Kalona, Elmer Kemp of Arthur, IL, Alvin and his wife, Rachel Kemp of Wellman, and Noah and his wife, Linda Kemp of Kalona; sisters, Alta and her husband, Elmer G. Miller of Kalona, Carolina Kemp of Kalona, Edna and her husband, Milford Yoder of Wellman, and Mary Jane and her husband, Doyle Yoder of Springfield, MO.

Omer was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, John Henry and Maynard Kemp, sister, Fannie Kemp, and sister-in-law, Ella Kemp.