Obituary of Velma Emma Kemp

Velma Emma Kemp, 92, of Colorado Springs passed away peacefully at home and went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 16, 2021. She was born to Richard and Laura Amendt in Van Cleve, Iowa on January 11, 1929. Her birth was at home during a cold and wintery day, and her father brought a doctor to their house with a team of horses hitched to the bobsled.Growing up on the family farm in Iowa during The Depression taught Velma how to cook wonderful meals, and can peaches and tomatoes. Beginning at the age of 6, she walked a mile to a country school through the 8th grade. She attended high school in Van Cleve, Iowa where she was an avid basketball player. She was one of the highest scorers on the team. It is said that she scored 42 points in one game! After graduating from high school, Velma stayed home to work the family farm until her brothers returned from WWII. She then moved to Marshalltown and worked at Fisher Governor Co for five years. She decided to attend the University of Iowa in 1951. While at the University, she met her future husband, John R. Kemp. John and Velma were married on April 3, 1953 in Haverhill, Iowa. Velma was able to accompany John during his two years of military service, after which they moved to St. Louis Park, Minnesota. They moved from there to the Village of Orono, where they lived on Stubbs Bay on Lake Minnetonka for approximately seven years. They then moved to Bemidji, Minnesota before moving to Colorado in 1976. Velma worked at Children's Hospital in Denver, where she was Supervisor of Cashiers. She retired in 1990.Velma was a very efficient and hard worker. She enjoyed doing things for her family and would often stay up late at night to do so. She loved playing cards with friends, and also playing golf with John. She also loved going to church, where in her earlier years, she was a choir member.Velma was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Laura; brothers, LaVerne and his wife, Carol, and Virgil and his wife, Earlene; her nephews, Roger Amendt and Gregory Amendt; brothers-in-law, Laurence Kemp and his wife, Maxine, and James Kemp.Velma is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years, John; her children, Linda (Ruben) Hargis of Colorado Springs, Lawrence (Phyllis) Kemp of Littleton, and Steven (Carol) Kemp of Loveland; sister in-law, Eunice Kemp of Atlantic, Iowa; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nephews and nieces, including Vera (Kemp) Germain of Colorado Springs. Visitation, 4:00PM-7:00PM, Sunday, May 23, 2021, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909.Attendees for the Visitation will be capped at 100 people. Masks/facial coverings are required.Funeral Service, 9:30AM, Monday, May 24, 2021, First Evangelical Free Church, 820 North 30th Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904. Graveside Service, 1:00PM, Monday, May 24, 2021, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925.Attendees for the Graveside Service will be capped at 40 people. Masks/facial coverings are required.Special thanks to all her kind neighbors, friends, and caregivers for the excellent help and care in her final days. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Evangelical Free Church (1freechurch.org). Events Visitation Sunday, May 23, 2021 4:00PM - 7:00PM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855 Funeral Service Monday, May 24, 2021 9:30AM First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs 820 North 30th Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904 Graveside Monday, May 24, 2021 1:00PM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035