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| E. Joan Kemp ~ May 3, 1930-December 7, 2006 |
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Elizabeth Joan Berscheid (Stacey) Kemp, age 76, died on Thursday evening, December 7, 2006, at Overland Park Regional Hospital after sustaining a severe head injury in a fall on ice four days earlier.
Mrs. Kemp was born in Berwyn, IL on May 3, 1930 to Ortha Louise (Scrivens) and John Jacques Berscheid, grew up in LaGrange, IL and has lived in Prairie Village, KS for 43 years. Joan graduated from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa with a degree in Journalism. Her professional journalism work included serving as a writer and editor for the Johnson County Sun newspaper, and writing freelance articles. She worked tirelessly for numerous community nonprofit organizations.
Joan enjoyed her jobs as mother and homemaker, which afforded her time to use her training and experience as a photo journalist to volunteer for causes she found worhtwhile. She was a Village Presbyterian Church ordained elder witha special interest in local missions. Her love for animals took the form of partnering with her beloved golden retrievers to bring healing joy throuh Pets for Life and Mo-Kan Pet Partners for 18 years and by supporting many animal aid organizations. She enjoyed music as a recreation, playing cello with the Medical Arts Symphony and later joining the Kansas City Banjo Band after learning to play the banjo at age 60. For a number of years she served on the City of Prairie Village Arts Council and the city Animal Advisory Board.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Arthur Stacey III, and her parents. Mrs. Kemp is survived by her husband of 36 years, John Bernard Kemp, her daughers and their families.
In lieu of flowers, the Kemp Family suggests memorial gifts be given to any of her many favorite chartiies, including but not limited to Mo-Kan Pet Partners.
(Excerpts taken from local paper obituary.)
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What Happened:
As most of you know, Joan fell on parking lot ice on Sunday afternoon, December 3, at 5pm, following a dog training club holiday party. She took the family dog to the car, and fell hard hitting the left side of her head. Dazed, she somehow managed to pull herself up, lift Mandy into the car, and returned to push John in his wheelchair to the car. She drove everyone home, and found blood on her shirt when she arrived. She had a serious headache that would not abate. Just before 8pm, she and Dad called her daughter, Beth, asking for a ride to the emergency room. When Beth and her husband, Dave, arrived, Joan was immobile and losing consciousness. An ambulance was summoned, and took her immediately to the trauma hospital where she went directly into surgery. Her brain injury was so substantial that, following surgery, the family was advised of the extreme, life-threatening...(text missing).
Driving Forces in Her Life:
Family: Two successful and proud daughters, Sue Stacey and Beth Cicha, who live fulfilled, wonderful lives, and their spouses, Brad Meinhold and Dave Cicha. Joan's husband of 36+ years, John, whom she adored and who adored her, was her partner and best friend in all aspects of their lives. John's Parkinson's Disease presented them both with many challenges, but it was Joan's tenaciousness that kept John going - to doctor's and therapy appointments but also to the many social and family events that gave them joy - particularly her granddaughter, Christine's cello concerts. And, there were the many, many step-grandchildren and great-step-grandchildren whom she loved and honored.
Social justice fighter: Joan was certain that lives can always be made better if we just get involved, and that translated into her volunteer work and her determination that she and John would not surrender to age-related infirmaries or John’s Parkinson’s.
The arts were a fundamental part of her life. She took up the cello again in her late 40’s or 50’s- played in the Medical Arts Symphony despite not having played since high school. She took great pride that her granddaughter, Christine, took up the cello and together they played. Joan loved jazz and even the heavy metal cello music to which Christine introduced her! She learned to play the banjo at the age of 60! She found a mentor teacher, Jim Robinson, and worked at it until she was asked to play in the KC Banjo Band, and then worked even harder until she was asked to take a lead banjo position. This meant so much to her. And, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nelson Art Gallery were her favorites.
Volunteerism and Service to others: Joan was a Deacon and ordained Elder at the Village Presbyterian Church. She was a member of numerous community organizations and groups. Starting with her work with inner city youth in the '60's, she volunteered for programs in which children read books to her golden retrievers at schools and libraries. She provided eighteen years of volunteer service with Pets For Life and Mo-Kan Pet Partners- therapy dog work with her two golden retrievers, Hobeaux and Mandy, for many years. She frequently shared stories of patients in nursing homes speaking or walking for the first time in years for the dogs. For example, at Rebound Rehabilitation Center, Joan took Hobeaux to see several teen-age boys who were unco….(text missing).
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Other thoughts on Joan Kemp and her very influential life....
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Animal and music lover : As a child growing up in LaGrange, Ill., she loved animals and music. She played the cello and took English riding and dressage lessons. She competed in horseback riding while attending Grinnell College. An avid writer, Kemp graduated with a journalism degree.
She was lucky in love — twice: While working at her first newspaper job in Ames, Iowa, she met her first husband, William Stacey III. He worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation. They moved to Kansas City in 1964. He died two years later, leaving her to raise their two daughters, ages 7 and 10.
Friends in the Department of Transportation eventually introduced her to John Kemp, a widower with three children. They married in 1970.
“It was quite a love story,” said her daughter, Sue Stacey. “People just kept setting them up, and it ended up being a match that worked out beautifully.”
Multi-talented: Kemp’s professional career included a stint as a writer and editor for the Sun Newspapers in Johnson County. She also competed in fiction-writing competitions and wrote for the many nonprofit organizations she joined.
She was an ordained elder with Village Presbyterian Church and never lost her love of music. She played the cello with the Medical Arts Symphony, and at age 60 she took up the banjo and played with the Kansas City Banjo Band.
Civic-minded as well, Kemp also served on the City of Prairie Village Arts Council and the Animal Advisory Board.
Despite her many activities, family came first. “Family was the center point of Joan’s life,” said John Kemp, her stepson, adding that her handwritten calendar tracked the activities of the Kemp family members — from birthdays to new pets. In recent years she became the caregiver for her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease.
Joining pets and people: Kemp brought joy to children, older residents and people with disabilities by taking her golden retriever, Mandy, to visit nursing homes, hospitals, rehab centers and schools.
For 18 years she was involved with Pets for Life, Mo-Kan Pet Partners and READ, Reading Assistance Education Dogs, a program where children read to dogs.
“Children loved Joan and Mandy,” said Joyce Maas, who met Kemp through Pets for Life.
“Joan would hold up math flash cards, and Mandy would bark the right answer. Mandy was known as the dog that could count.”
Survived by: Her husband, her two daughters and their families, three step-children and their spouses, and four step-grandchildren and their families.
The last word: “Joan was a big believer that people need to get involved,” Maas said.
“When I would say, ‘I don’t know if I can do that,’ she would say, ‘Yes, you can. If you put your mind to it, you can do it.’ She gave of herself 100 percent and believed that’s what everyone should do.”
(taken from tribute in KC Star)
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| Joan & Mandy 2006 - ***Click on Picture to take you to the KC Golden Retriever Club web site*** |
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Montana Chinook Warms WigWam -- "Mandy"& Joan Kemp
Mandy, 14 years old, (owned by Joan and John Kemp) has served as an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) partner with her owner, Joan Kemp, since she was three months old when hospital therapists gave her a baby shower complete with poster, streamers and a baby book to record a paw print and lock of fur. ( She has filled the footprints of the beloved Hobeauette, UDT)
Mandy and Joan are registered by the Delta Society International.
After 8 years with Pets For Life they joined the newly formed MO-KAN Pet Partners. MO-KAN offers a Delta evaluation every three months. New members who become registered can shadow an active volunteer in the area they wish to work.
Many of their visits over the years have been to patients in Mid America Rehabilitation Institute. In the past few years Mandy and Joan have encouraged elementary children to read. For 4 years they llistened to readers at Oak Park School. Now they encourage readers at Corinth Library the third Saturday of each month.
You are also invited to join KCGRC members and share the joy of pet therapy, we value your profound contribution to the world!
Copyright 2005-2006 KCGRC
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| Thank you, Joan & Mandy,.... |
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| Mandy doing her stuff at Corinth Library |
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Joan ~
Your were an inspiration to all and a wonderful person to know. Your tireless work to lend your time and your furry friends to brighten someone else's day or give a child the place to feel comfortable while they read to your beloved Golden Retrievers motivates all of us to give just a little bit more of ourselves and our furry friends as well. Thank you so very very much.
Rest well, friend, and thanks for being all that you were to us. You and Mandy will be sorely missed indeed.
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