Gwendolyn Kemper

On May 28, 2025, at the age of 88, Gwen passed away peacefully at home. She died after a year-long battle of declining health following a fall and broken hip last May. Blessed with good health her entire life, she did not go willingly and fought fiercely to regain her strength. She was stubborn and independent, she did not readily accept the changes that occur with age! She complained about not being able to recall a name or think of a word on rare occasions. She was an avid reader until macular degeneration robbed her of most of her vision and she reluctantly surrendered to books on tape. She drove her car longer than she should have, claiming “My car can drive itself.” She did a fair amount of yard work, she paid her bills online, she kept meticulous records and her checkbook was always balanced to the exact cent. Her credit score is 850 and she was proud of that! Her mind was as sharp as ever until the very end. She was also very dismayed about her loss of hearing, having always had the keenest ears, like those of a dolphin!

Gwen was born on August 20, 1936, in Whitley City, Kentucky, to Charles and Esther Ball (nee Johnson). She was the oldest of three girls. She later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, but spent many summers in Whitley, on her Uncle Dick’s and Aunt Helen’s farm where she became very close to her cousin, Jean, who was one year older than Gwen. Being the oldest of her immediate family she also looked after her sisters, Carolyn and Jackie.

She was a self-proclaimed book-worm in school and graduated at the top of her class from Walnut Hills High School, in 1954. She also attended University of Cincinnati. In 1958, she married Robert R. Kemper, and had two children, Susan and Robert Jr. Gwen worked a variety of jobs while raising her children, always in accounting or bookkeeping, as she was a master of working with numbers, a very astute mathematician. She enjoyed cooking, baking and reading as much as time would allow. She also took art lessons for a while and enjoyed working with oil paints. For several years during the 70’s she often displayed her art at community art shows and even sold a few paintings. She instilled this love of art to her daughter, Sue, who sold her painted rocks along side her mom in Mt. Adams and the Cincinnati Zoo. She was proud of her children, her daughter, a registered nurse, and her son, a gifted physician, who God called home fourteen years ago. Bob Jr., Bob Sr. and a wealth of loved ones most certainly welcomed her to Heaven!

Gwen is preceded in death by her husband Robert R. Kemper, her son, Robert R. Kemper Jr., MD, PhD, her sisters and brothers-in-laws, Carolyn and Jack Mayo, Jackie and Glenn Jansen. She is survived by her daughter, Sue (John) Fahey, her daughter-in-law, Rosa Kemper, her grandchildren Joe and Evan Seyfang, Robby and Kate “Gigi” Kemper, and several nieces and nephews. At Gwen’s request services will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donation may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati C/O Bethesda Foundation. Inc. P.O. Box 633597 Cincinnati, Ohio 45263-3597.