Gary Kemp

Gary Don Kemp

8/12/1940-7/6/26

Gary Don Kemp, age 85, died on July 6, 2026, after a short Illness in Greenwood Village, CO, just before his 86th

birthday. He was born on August 12, 1940, at the hospital in Flagler, CO and returned home with his parents Donald

E. Kemp and Bertha H. Kemp living in nearby Arriba, CO with his brother, Dennis. He attended Arriba Public Schools

- Elementary, Junior High and High School. Gary took part in football, basketball, baseball and chorus freshman

through senior years as well as class plays his junior and senior year. Outside of school he helped his father and brother with

farming, livestock, and the Kemp's Service Station. Gary also helped our Kemp grandparents as needed, and enjoyed

casual racing our Thoroughbred horse "Peggy". He was baptized, confirmed, and attended Immanuel Lutheran

Church for worship services all the years he lived in Arriba. In May 1958 Gary graduated from Arriba High School, his

Arriba Yearbook Motto being "A Smile for all, a greeting glad, An Amiable jolly way he had."

Gary enrolled at Colorado State University, graduating spring of 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Business

Management, a Wall Street Journal Award, a Commission as a U.S. Army Officer, and named a Distinguished Military

Graduate ranking top of the class.

The first year he was based in the George G. Marshall Army Missile Command in Huntsville, Alabama. Gary then

transferred to West Germany for the next two years working with Combat Arms. He said it was a privilege to serve

in the field in support of the professional and determined men of the 3rd Armored Division and the 14th Armored

Calvary on the border of East Germany. Gary managed two high-priority combat readiness projects to completion,

along with other assignments which required travel throughout the American Sector of two corps, in Frankfort and

Stuttgart. He found them remarkably interesting and educational.

On August 19,1962, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt and was promoted to a 1t Lt on February 19, 1964, for the

remainder of his service. Gary received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service prior to receiving

an Honorable Discharge on August 19, 1965.

Gary lived life to the fullest and took every opportunity presented to him. During two years in Germany Gary

learned conversational German. He was often invited for the holidays by our mother's Fruhling cousin, Emil, and

wife Frieda, son Gerd and Ulla, and children Maike and Jan to stay with them in their home in Hamburg, Germany.

Emil and Frieda spoke German only. Others spoke German and English. It's tradition that they decorate a Christmas

tree on the 24th with small white candles, light them and sing Christmas songs while Gerd played the piano. Frieda

and Gary also went to church on Christmas Eve. Gary could communicate with German and Austrian people which

was beneficial when visiting Bavaria, south of Munich, giving him access to Austria for outstanding skiing.

Gary was always grateful he obtained an American Passport at the consulate in Frankfort, so he could stay and travel

in Europe and England for two months after his honorable discharge before returning to the United States. He knew

limited French words but managed visits from Normandy to Nice and Strasbourg to Poitiers. He visited most of "free

Western Europe" at the time except for Greece, Portugal, Norway, and Sweden.

In January 1966 Gary accepted a job offer with CATERPILLAR and began their College Graduate Training Program at

the headquarters in Peoria, Illinois, resulting in a sales job. Second year was at CAT Ltd. selling CATERPILLAR

equipment in Scotland, England, and Ireland. Then five months at CAT headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland selling

equipment. Fall 1968 he returned to U. S. CAT in Illinois for a few months, and in January 1969 - August 1970 he

began traveling and selling equipment in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Then September 1970 -

September 1973 Gary traveled the U. S. and Canada calling on CATERPILLAR'S largest customers and dealers. After

seven years (January 1966 - September 1973) with CATERPILLAR Gary chose to change jobs.

He had the opportunity to return to Colorado and sell CATERPILLAR equipment for Wagner Equipment Company at

1800 Smith Road in Aurora, CO for a span of 33 years and three months (September 1973 - retirement March

31,2006). Gary sold CATERPILLER equipment for projects like Eisenhower Tunnel, Coal mines, rock quarries, large

mine reclamation, Denver International Airport, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Summitville Mine, Cripple Creek, Victor

Gold Mining Company, E-470, C-470 and others. He won three trips to England and Europe, super bowl trips, and

other performance-based awards. With both jobs combined Gary sold CATERPILLER Equipment for 40 years and

three months !!

July 1976 Gary achieved a dream to have a condominium at the base of Vail Mountain right along Gore Creek with a

beautiful view of Gore Range and Vail Mountain. He loved snow skiing in winter. Hiking, biking, and outdoor

concerts in summer.

Gary loved music. Supported Vail Classical Music Festival that brought New York Philharmonic symphony, Dallas

symphony, and many world class guest performers. And in Denver he supported and attended the Colorado

Symphony, Denver Art Museum, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Nature and Science.

In recent years while reflecting Gary would often say after living in three foreign countries and traveling through

numerous more, he really appreciated the freedoms and the constitution that we have in the U.S.A. He saw the

American War cemeteries in France, England, and Italy, each holding over 10,000 dead who sacrificed their lives for

America and our freedom!

Gary remained faithful, finding churches as he traveled. It amazed us that some earlier time he wrote his favorite

hymns on a piece of paper and filed it. We honor him today by singing them for him. Mount Olive Lutheran Church

was his home church in Aurora, Colorado. Reverend Robert Harmon's sermons connected with Gary, so his visits to

Gary's home and Brookdale helped. Gary took comfort in his siblings and other family members being with him,

when possible, in his last weeks. Many times, we'd hold hands and say The Lord's Prayer together before parting,

and Gary would always say "God Bless America" and wanted us to say it with him. We believe he knew Kathrine was

with him as our Lord and Savior called him home to his eternal peace. We will remember with love Gary's big smile

and laughter, his story telling over the years, his love of good food and wine, his love of books, music, and the

outdoors. We will see him again.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, and older brother. Survivors include sister Julie Frank, brother Bruce

(Melissa) Kemp, sisters Kathrine Kemp and Sherry (Virgil) Reed; four nephews David (Samantha) Kemp, Drew (Olivia)

Kemp, Nick (Carisa) Kemp; and Eric Reed; and three nieces Heidi Mitchell, Amy Helzer, and Stephanie (Bryan)

Daugherty; and all their children; Kemp and Fruhling cousins and friends.