William “Bill” Emmett Kemp

William ”Bill” Emmett Kemp

Marion

William ”Bill” Emmett Kemp, 93, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. A Celebration of Bill’s life is planned for next spring from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Marion American Legion Post 298, located at 625 31st Street in Marion. Private committal services will be held at a later date.

Bill was born on March 26, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Warren J. and Esther E. (Booze) Kemp. He was a 1948 graduate of Springville High School. He served honorably for the United States Navy during the Korean War. On Aug. 12, 1980, Bill was united in marriage to Sharon Kaye Fehr Long in Knoxville, Iowa.

He worked as a truck driver for King’s Concrete in Marion until retirement in 1990. The Kemp family is known nationwide for their Black Angus Cattle. Bill won many awards at the State Fair with his cattle. He was an expert bowler, bowling in many leagues. He raced stockcars at at least nine different racetracks around the area starting with CeMar Acres, Hawkeye Downs, and Tunis Speedway. At Farley Speedway, he was honored as a ”Legend”. Bill was inducted into the Wall of Fame at Hawkeye Downs in 2020, something he was very proud of. Bill and Sharon enjoyed camping and fishing, especially at the Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals. He was a lifelong resident of Marion and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 43 years, Sharon of Marion; two daughters, Karen Kemp and Kellee Evans of Cedar Rapids; stepchildren, Brenda (Mike) Doonan of Barnes City, Iowa, Barbara Long of Hiawatha, and Darin (Kris) Long of Waterloo, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) Delarm, Jessica Evans, Josh (Evelin) Doonan, Isaac (Anna-Lisa) Doonan, Kaitlin (Scott Schledewitz) Long, and Jordan (Britt) Long; nine greatgrandchildren, Alexander, Amelia, Liam, Ella, Cooper, Onyx, Finn, Eli, and Juniper; and a brother-in-law, Chuck Stookesberry of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Edna Stookesberry.

Memorials in Bill’s memory may be directed to Marion Christian Church, The American Legion, or the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.

Please share a memory of Bill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.