Jan Kemp

JAN KEMP LaVerne Jeanette "Jan" Gill Kemp passed away at her residence in Towanda, Kansas on May 3, 2025, with her family surrounding her. Jan was born in Texon, Texas on January 2nd, 1933 to Harold Freeman & Imo F. (Umstott) Gill. She spent the first twelve years of her life in Texon, an oil field town in west Texas. She had many fond childhood memories. Her family then abruptly moved to Wichita, Kansas to be near extended family as her father recovered from a debilitating oil field accident. Jan attended Robinson Jr. High and then East High School, where she graduated in 1951. She was the first in her family to receive a high school diploma and promised her father she would earn a college degree. Jan earned an elementary education degree from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. While attending college, she met her lifelong love, Fred Kemp. He proposed to Jan while on a walk together at Horizon Methodist Camp in rural Arkansas City. Jan and Fred were married on September 13, 1953, at Grace Methodist Church in Wichita. The couple had two daughters, LaDonna & Kathryn. From 1957 to 1959, Jan and Fred worked together as missionaries for the Methodist Church in Amherstdale, West Virginia, and Robstown, Texas, working primarily with the youth of those communities. In Robstown, Jan worked with preschool and elementary-age children and helped to organize a Brownie Scout troop. The couple moved back to Kansas in late 1959 to raise their girls. Jan was an occasional substitute teacher while she began working on and completed a graduate degree in Library Science from Emporia State University. She served the Circle School district as an elementary librarian for 28 years, working at Oil Hill, Vanora, and Benton grade schools. For many years, she was active in the Kansas Association of School Librarians where she was honored to serve as President-Elect, and then President for 2 years in the early 1970's. She so enjoyed sharing her love of books with her students. She was a gifted storyteller and loved reading aloud to children. One of her greatest joys was involving her students in reading and voting for the best William Allen White children's book from the yearly list. Jan was very active in her church, including WSCS/UMW, and in more recent years, teaching children's Sunday School. After their retirement in 1995, Jan and Fred traveled extensively throughout the world. Jan was especially interested in China and Japan. She also enjoyed traveling to the National Train Collector's Association conventions each year with Fred, making many friends among the other train collectors' wives. She served on the Towanda Public Library board for eight years and then became president and original founder of Friends of the Library. She was very active in its fundraising and socials, and delighted in helping with the children's Story Hour. She was also a member of the Nokomis Club. Jan always had a special interest in international students. She and Fred hosted several exchange students through the years. Jan is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, with whom she enjoyed 71 years of marriage until his death in early January. Jan is survived by her daughter LaDonna Ross (Brad) of Merritt Island, FL, daughter Kathryn Isbill (Michael) of Shiocton, WI, 4 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 5-7 pm at Carlson Funeral Home in El Dorado. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 9:30 am at Towanda Community Church. She will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery in Winfield, KS immediately following the memorial service. Memorial donations in Jan's name may be directed toward the Towanda Public Library and the United Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas.