Paul C. Kemp Sr.

November 22, 1932 – December 9, 2020

Paul Kemp passed away Wednesday morning, December 9, 2020 at Valley Manor Care and Rehabilitation facility, Excelsior Springs, Mo., from Parkinson’s disease.

Paul was born to Paul Kemp Sr. and Pearl Pauline Adams in Kansas City, Mo. He married his wife, Carol Koster, on July 19, 1952 and shared 63 years of marriage until she passed February 2, 2015 from Alzheimer’s. They had two children, Debra (Bennie) Ellington and Paul (Patti) Kemp Jr., four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His sister, Dorothy Christy, who passed away February 1, 2020, shared the same birthday. She always reminded him it was her birthday first. They shared a deep brother/sister bond that on the outside they poked and teased at each other but knew support was there if needed. Paul was blessed to have Dorothy’s children, Pat (Rick) Huskey , Brian Jackson (Kandy), and Barry (Carolyn) Jackson in his life. They all shared moments of jokes, pranks and childhood memories as all were growing up under Dorothy’s wing. They were always a joy to be around.

Paul graduated from Southeast High School August 5, 1949 and worked at an auto parts store until he enlisted in the Navy on December 12, 1951. He was a decorated Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War on the USS Valley Forge as an aviation machinist mate. After discharge, he held management positions in quality control for several companies that took him and family in and out of state. He finally retired from G & O Manufacturing in Jackson, Miss., and he and Carol moved back to Kearney, Mo., to be closer to family.

Paul took great pride in his homes, cars and spent his free time as an empty nester working in the yard and around the house. There was nothing he couldn’t fix or tinker with. He received his amateur radio license (KW5T) in 1996 which he enjoyed sharing with his son and wife as a hobby. Throughout life, even though growing up in the depression era, he enjoyed jokes, pranks and his beer. He and Carol were frugal but always had an open ear/shoulder for those who needed support.

Paul’s wife, Carol, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003 and he took care of her in the home until she entered a convalescent center where she passed in 2015.

As Paul transitioned from he and Carol’s Kearney home to apartment, independent, assisted and convalescent care, he was always there as a volunteer and help any and all persons around him. He made all feel welcome and no question was stupid. Even after his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2015, he continued to assist others wherever possible. As his ability to speak became more compromised, he still gave his smile, his nod, his twinkle eyed look that made people feel that he was interested in them. Parkinson’s did not take that from him. He would tell you today “Been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.”

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at this time, services will be scheduled for late spring/summer of 2021 as an outside event to honor his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Three Rivers Hospice, P.O. Box 1937, Platte City, MO 64079 or the Parkinson’s foundation care of University of Kansas Medical Center, KU Endowment, Disease Foundation, Department of Neurology, Att: Rajesh Pahwa, MD, 3599 Rainbow Boulevard, Mail Stop 3042, Kansas City, KS 66160.

Arrangements in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.