Obituary: Eleanor A. Kemp

July 4, 1923 – Sept. 25, 2019 

Eleanor A. Kemp, 96, of Sturgeon Bay died at the Skilled Nursing Facility of Door County Medical Center.

She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of William Burton and Clara (Bartow) Legg. Ellie graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago with the Class of 1940. She enjoyed singing in the high school choir, taking ballet class and riding Harleys in her younger years. Ellie worked for Western Union in the Chicago Loop as a key-punch operator until her marriage to Lester Arnold Kemp on Nov. 26, 1949. He died in 1982. She was a familiar face at Bay Pharmacy, where she worked at the checkout and helped with merchandising.

Ever since high school, she loved music and singing and was an accomplished pianist.

She was an active member of the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church for 70 years, where she sang in the church choir, was active in various women’s circles and helped for 15 years with the community food program, Loaves and Fishes. Ellie enjoyed sewing, knitting and attending hearty conditioning classes at the Y. She was a prolific writer who authored many poems.

Survivors include her two daughters, Jill (John Gunn) Kemp of Wisconsin Rapids, and Cory Kemp of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Lester; son, Kraig; and her brother, Burton (Joanne) Legg.

Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, with Rev. Dr. Matthew R. Knapp Sr. officiating. Burial will be at Bayside Cemetery.

Friends may call on Friday, Sept. 27, 5-7 pm, at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay; and at the church Sept. 28, 9-10 am.

Memorials may be made in her memory to Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church.

The online guestbook may be signed at huehnsfuneralhome.com.

DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO:

Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church
323 S. 5th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Tel: 920-743-6218
Web: sbmoravian.org