Memorial
An amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather lost his battle with Lewy Body Dementia on March 25, 2024, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Tom Kemp was born in Vinton, IA on February 11, 1947, to Rex and Marian Kemp. Tom graduated from Washington High School in Vinton, IA with the Great Class of 1965. Tom married the love of his life, Shirley Petersen on November 2, 1968, in Vinton, IA. In this union Tom and Shirley were blessed with two sons, Eric, and Corey.
Tom worked at Rockwell Collins for 47 years. Tom held various jobs in manufacturing. Tom then was promoted to an office position as a Quality Engineer. Tom excelled at this position being active in the Printed Circuit Board Shop and leading committees with the international Printed Circuit Boards where he received numerous awards.
Tom gave up his love of cars while raising his two sons to do what was important to them. Both boys raced Quarter Midgets across the country until their teen years when they started liking the bigger cars. Tom greatly enjoyed working on the quarter midgets with his sons. When Tom became a grandfather, everything changed and he had such a sparkle in his eyes for his grandchildren. Tom followed his grandkids in all of their sports and dancing events, rarely missing any. Tom was very passionate about his family always making them a priority.
Tom had numerous Hot Rods and Show Cars. Tom had cars published in magazines and won prestigious awards at various car shows including getting the top Hot Rod Award for being the Best of Show at the Chicago World of Wheels Car Show. Tom and Shirley loved going to car shows and cruises where they met so many new friends.
Tom and Shirley enjoyed traveling with their favorite trips being to Hawaii and a Caribbean Cruise with Shirley’s work friends. Tom enjoyed annual trips with his siblings and enjoyed all the “Sister” Trip vacations with Shirley’s sisters and brothers-in-law. After retiring Tom restarted his hobby of building model cars, which he enjoyed working on.
Tom is survived by his wife Shirley; sons, Eric (Erin), Corey (Nikki); grandchildren, Alli and Austin Kemp, Lauren and Landon Kemp, Brianne (Phil) Skogmo, and great-grandson, Scotty Skogmo; brother, Larry (Kathleen) Kemp; sisters, Kathy (Ray) Stockdale, Janice Ericson, and sister-in-law, Virginia Kemp. Sisters-in-law, Sandra (Tom) Bauer, Sharon Campbell, Shiela Petersen, Sharece (Bill ) Klimek, Sharla (Linn) Ries, Suzie (Randy) Anderson, Shalain (Mark) Sisco, and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, Cecil and Bernice Petersen, brothers, Jerry Kemp, and Tim Kemp, brothers-in-law, Ed Ericson and Charlie Campbell.
A visitation will be held at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories on Friday, March 29, 2024, from 9 AM until service time at 10 AM with Certified Celebrant, Randy Walton officiating. A livestream of the service will be available on the Cedar Memorial Park website under Tom’s obituary, under the video tab starting on Friday, March 29, 2024, at 10 AM. Interment to follow at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oldorf Hospice House or to the Dementia Society.