Dr. John E. Kaemmer

Dr. John E. Kaemmer passed away January 4th at Newbury Court in Concord. He leaves his wife Gloria, his daughters Greta and Marta (both of Brookline), son David, daughter-in-law Althea, and three grandchildren Carolyn, Hannah, and Graham Kaemmer (of Concord), who are saddened by the loss of such a good and kind man. John was born in Great Falls, Montana, in 1928 and spent his childhood moving from community to community in the Northwest as the child of a Methodist minister. He himself was ordained as a Methodist minister after completing divinity studies at Boston University, Scarritt College and Garrett Theological Seminary. John worked for many years as a Methodist missionary in Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where he and Gloria raised their young family. He taught music and studied African music and culture, and upon returning to the United States in 1973 he continued his studies at Indiana University, where he earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnomusicology. He then taught as a professor of anthropology at DePauw University, where he became department chair, until his retirement in 1993. He also authored a textbook, Music in Human Life. John returned to Zimbabwe as a Fulbright lecturer at the College of Music in Harare with Gloria in 1993. The following year they retired to Seattle, Washington. He dedicated his life to service to others, and always showed a keen interest in the world and all the people in it. Even in retirement he organized and led a discussion group in Seattle that focused on world politics and social problems that concern all of us. He touched many lives during his travels and activities, and made the world a better place everywhere he went. John and Gloria moved to Concord last year in order to be closer to their children. A memorial service will be held at Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court on Thursday, January 20th at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Heifer Project www.heifer.org/myregistry/jkaemmer) will allow John, with your help, to continue to make the world a better place. For online guest book visit www.deefuneralhome.com