Denny Kemp

Dennis G. Kemp was 63 years old when he died on September 29^th at his home in North Mankato.  Memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, October 9^th 2021 at the Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato. Visitation will be held 3:00-6:00pm on Friday, October 8^th at the North Mankato Mortuary and will continue for 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday. A luncheon will be served. The service will be livestreamed and available on Denny’s obituary page at www.mankatomortuary.com. Masks are welcome and the family kindly requests that anyone unvaccinated for COVID please wear a mask. 

In February of 1958, he was born in Fairmont, MN, the youngest child of Raymond and Carrie Kemp.  He attended Fairmont Schools, graduating from high school in 1976.  In 1977 he was hired as a police officer for the City of Winnebago, MN. 

Following the love of his life, in December of 1979 he moved to North Mankato and joined that city’s police department.  Denny and Jan married at Messiah Lutheran Church in November of 1982.  They established their home in North Mankato and immersed themselves into community service.

He left law enforcement to become coordinator for public access television for the cities of North Mankato and Mankato.  He ended his professional career in 2014 having served as the IT director for the City of North Mankato.  He was an unrepentant technology nerd.

Even in his teenage years, Denny always had at least two jobs.  In 1982, he became adjunct faculty at Mankato Area Vocational Technical College -- now named South Central College --teaching in the Emergency Medical Services Department.  He continued teaching there until February 2021 when his physical health forced him to stop teaching in the classroom.

In 1980, Denny joined the North Mankato Civic and Commerce Association.  His pride in his new hometown led him to become a co-coordinator for North Mankato’s annual Fun Days celebration.  He proudly served in that role until July of this year.

Seeking to continue his community service, in 2016 he was successful in his run for the Third District seat on the Nicollet County Board of Commissioners.  He was reelected in November of 2020.  He continued serving in this role until his death.

Denny is survived by his spouse of 39 years, Jan Kemp; his felines, Nicodemus, Gibbs, Marko; and his brother, George Kemp.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard.

Denny wanted memorials to be directed to community nonprofits that assist the most vulnerable among us.  In the North Mankato/Mankato area that may be the Backpack Food Program, the ECHO food shelf, Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society or Mending Spirits Animal Rescue.  If you are not a member of these local communities, please consider donating to worthy nonprofits in your own location.

Further, he made clear that flowers should indeed be sent, but not for him.  Rather, send flowers to a friend, family member, coworker or neighbor who might need a bit of cheer and a reminder that they are loved or appreciated.

Jan offers special thanks for the gracious care and kindness she and Denny received from the staff of St. Croix Hospice.