Arnold E Kempe

Arnold E Kempe; January 23, 1927 - July 22, 2022

Preceded in death by father Carl E Kempe, mother Alice P Kempe, brother Carl R Kempe, 1st wife Elizabeth S Kempe.

Survived by brother Raymond J Kempe, 2nd wife Barbara Kempe, sons and daughters with Elizabeth; William C Kempe, Mary L Kempe, Annette M Kempe, and daughter and son of Barbara; Diane Andreesen, Brian Otte, and Diane's daughter Leigh Maesaka and son Thompson Maesaka, as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Arnold E Kempe was raised in West Saint Paul, MN and spent his summers at the family cabin on Spring Lake in Hastings MN. Answering the call of the nation during WWII, he enlisted with the Army Air Corps with intention of becoming a pilot. Before his training was complete, peace in Europe was achieved, then he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps, to serve in the war against Japan. Once the peace treaty with Japan was signed, Arnold was honorably discharged. He was always most proud of his service in the USMC.

Arnold, received his bachelors degree in economics from the University of MN, and then went to law school at the U of MN Law school. Arnold graduated with honors. He began his law career with the firm of Hoffman, Donahue, Springer, Schultz, and Graff. Later, he and another attorney from that law firm, Thomas Murphy, broke off to form their own law practice, Kempe and Murphy located in West Saint Paul. Arnold Kempe served as mayor of the city of West St Paul and served from 1958 to 1963. He was then appointed City Attorney of West Saint Paul, which he held until his retirement. Arnold Kempe, a lifelong DFLer was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature in 1974 and served 2 terms, some service in the legislature concurrent with his brother, Raymond.

In 1998, Arnold Kempe and Barbara moved onto a new home in Cape Coral, Florida that Arnold was active in the design and construction of this home. The call of public service beckoned once again, and in 2000, he was elected mayor of Cape Coral, and he served until April of 2005.

During his lifetime, he had a passion for boating and he had a boat in Minnesota "Mal de Mer", and then in Florida he owned "Mal de Mer II". Arnold and Barbara shared a passion for hunting and fishing, Each fall the couple looked forward to deer hunting weekends in Shooks, MN, often staying at the "Royal Shooks Motel'.

Arnold and Barb moved back to West Saint Paul, Minnesota several years ago in order to be closer to family, and in the summer of 2021 they moved to a new facility in Burnsville, MN in order to better accommodate changing medical and social needs.

Arnold Kempe passed away at the end the day on July 22. That day several members of his family spent time with him. He will be missed.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. The family requests that any memorials be directed to the Animal Humane Society.