Dennis Laurence Kemp
May 20, 2013
Dennis Laurence Kemp, 70, of West Des Moines, Iowa died Monday, May 20, 2013 of sudden cardiac death. He was born in January 3, 1943 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Mildred and Laurence Kemp. He attended Butler and Holy Rosary grade schools and St. Edmonds High School. Dennis loved the game of basketball and earned a basketball scholarship. He graduated from Fort Dodge Community College, Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1968, Dennis enlisted in the Navy Judge Advocate Generals Corps and attended naval justice school in Newport, Rhode Island. He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base and became the legal officer for the Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Virginia.
After leaving the service, Dennis entered private law practice until 1973 when he became a Staff Attorney for the Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Office of Disability from which he retired December 1 of 2012. During his long career of government service, Dennis received many performance awards and citations including three Social Security Commissioner’s Citations and the President’s Employee of the Year Award from the Federal Executive Council of Central Iowa.
He is survived by Donna Hoagkemp, his wife of nearly 46 years; his daughter, Anastasia (Kemp) Blaes and her husband Mark Blaes of Woodbridge, Virginia; his son, Otto Kemp and his wife Anna Kemp of Onalaska, Wisconsin; his daughter, Katherine (Kemp) McFarland and her husband Andrew McFarland of Fishers, Indiana; six grandchildren, Archie Blaes, Liam Kemp, Claire Kemp, Leo Blaes, Elie Kemp and his newest granddaughter, Lillian Rose McFarland. Dennis is also survived by his sister, Janice Tague of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 27, 2103 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Ave in West Des Moines.
Memorials in Dennis’ name will be left to discretion of the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Claire Kemp
05/21/2017
I love you so much grandpa. I miss you every day.
Michael Ewing
02/28/2014
Donna:
So sorry for your loss. Please contact me if you get this message at: 480-721-3989
Mike Ewing
Deb Denney
06/05/2013
I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about Dennis. He was a kind and generous man and had a sense of humor often concealed. He was sharp, witty and talented and a tremendous resource to SSA, with capability to address the most difficult issues. Dennis was a good friend and I will miss him so much
bill mack
05/29/2013
Dennis, a man of faith and family, long and well served America in uniform and in public service. God bless you and your family. Rest in Peace.
Nancy LiVacari
05/28/2013
To the Kemp Family, My sincere sympathy to you for your loss. I worked with Dennis for many years when he came to Chicago and then when the office moved to Oakbrook. He was such a hard worker and a great member of our team of attorneys. I always enjoyed hearing about his family, kids, what they were doing, and vacations. I think he had some very happy years in our office and was definitely missed when he left. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jim Tornabane & Ann Laufersweiler Tornabane
05/27/2013
To the Kamp family,
We graduated from St. Edmonds in '63. I remember Denny as such a nice person. My husband, Jim grew up in the east end of Fort Dodge and has wonderful memories of Denny. We are so sorry for your loss.
Pat Tuel and Beverly Angell
05/26/2013
Donna and family - I am so sorry to hear about Dennis. Mark said it was so sudden. Bev and I were going to try and get down to the funeral but it is not going to work out. We want you to know we are thinking of you. Our sincere condolences.
Judge Ken Stewart
05/26/2013
Dennis Kemp was a valued decision writer at Oak Brook, IL, and his talents will be very much missed, My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Cindy Sample
05/26/2013
I enjoyed Dennis's smile. It is sad he is gone and did not get to evjoy his retirement. I worked at SSA also.
Carole &John Finneran
05/26/2013
We are saddened to hear of the loss of your brother. We know how much family means to you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you..Carole and John
Joanne Yetmar Ewing
05/25/2013
I was shocked to hear of Denny's death. He didn't get a chance to enjoy his retirement yrs. We were first cousins on his mother's side of a large extended family and we all shared some real good times together. Altho he left most of the talking to others he always had a way of getting his point across. He will definitely be missed by our family. Our thoughts & prayers are with Donna and their family. Joanne
Janie Adams
05/25/2013
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Dennis. He was a great guy and a super co-worker. On a daily basis, Dennis would stop by my cubicle and chit chat about many topics and I treasured those times. I am also deeply saddened he didn't get to enjoy his retirement that he so looked forward to. He will be remembered. He is now with the angels looking down upon us. Bless him and his family. Janie
Denzel Busick
05/25/2013
I worked with Dennis for several years in West Des Moines, having selected him as a Group Supervisor and then working with him as a Senior Attorney Writer. He was able to take some of the most difficult and confusing cases, make sense of them and then write a concise well-reasoned decision. He was, without a doubt, one of the best attorney writers I have worked with. I had the greatest respect for Dennis and his sense of justice. He was a good friend and confidant. He will be missed. Denny Busick
Nicole Riggs
05/23/2013
Dennis and I worked together at SSA for the last five years before his retirement. He was always generous with his time and advice mentoring new attorneys. We often spoke together about Creighton being two hold-out CU Law grads in the sea of Drake/UI and he was immensely happy when speaking of his children and grandchildren. I was heartbroken to hear of his passing and wish you all peace in this difficult time.
Theresa Grall White
05/23/2013
So sorry to hear of your loss. I went to school with Dennis at Holy Rosary and St Edmonds. He was always such a nice person that even after all these years his kindness is remembered. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.