Kemp, James W. (1922 - 2016)

KEMP, GADE, DUGGAN, GAUL, SWARTZ, SIMMS, ELWOOD, WHITE, PETERSEN, HANSEN, SMIDT

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/18/2016 at 16:18:58

Name of deceased: James White Kemp

Aged: 94 yrs, 10 mo, 16 days

Residence: Atlantic, IA

Born: Jan. 23, 1922; Jackson Township, Shelby County, IA

Died: Dec. 9, 2016; Cass County Memorial Hospital, Atlantic, IA

Funeral services: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, United Church of Christ, Atlantic, IA; burial followed, with military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard, in the Atlantic Cemetery, Atlantic, IA

Survived by: Wife of 69 years, Eunice; daughters, Julie (spouse, Kent) Gade of Atlantic, IA, Donna (spouse, Dan) Duggan of Omaha, NE, and Kim (spouse, Mike) Gaul of Ames, IA; grandchildren, Holly (spouse, Brian) Swartz, Jay (spouse, Mary) Simms, Michael (spouse, Stephanie) Duggan and Megan Gaul; step-grandchildren, Shana (spouse, Kevin) Elwood and Levi (spouse, Blaire) Gade; 8 great-grandchildren; 7 step-great-grandchildren; brother, John (spouse, Velma) Kemp; other relatives and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, James G. and Jessie (nee White) Kemp; brother, Lawrence Kemp and his wife, Maxine; brother-in-law, Vernon G. Petersen and his wife, Alice; sister-in-law, Ruth Jean Hansen and her husband, Orville; brother-in-law, Leland Smidt

Education: attended country school in Shelby County, IA, and graduated from the Harlan (IA) High School, Class of 1939

Religious affiliation: After his marriage, he transferred membership from the congregational church to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, IA; after moving to Guthrie County, IA, they transferred their membership to the Bowman Chapel Methodist Church, Guthrie Center, IA. After retiring, he and Eunice joined the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, IA

Military service: U. S. Navy, Aug. 1944 until May 1946; served on the U. S. S. Riverside in the South Pacific during WWII.

Marriage: Eunice Mae Petersen; Aug. 13, 1947; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IA

Employment: Farmer; in the 1960’s, he also wrote lyrics for country music with partners. Numerous songs were contracted with publishers, releasing 13 singles and one album. In the 1970's, along with farming and songwriting, he was also in the investment and insurance business. In 1977, he and Eunice retired from farming and moved to Atlantic, IA, where James continued to work part-time in the insurance and investment business.

Hobbies/Interests: no information provided

Sources: harlanonline.com; rolandfuneralservice.frontrunnerpro.com