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.
Roy D. Rogers
05/22/2013
I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Dennis. I worked with Dennis for several years at the West Des Moines Hearing Office. Dennis was was a great guy and a good friend. He was also an excellent boss. I pray that God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will comfort you in your time of loss.
Ron & Ruth Hughes
05/21/2013
To the Kemp family,
We were saddened to hear the news of Dennis. Even though he was a quite & private person he would go out of his way to talk with me.We had some good conversations on a number of topics but mostly about daily things. We will include your family in our thoughts & prayers..