"Kem" (Darlene) Kemmerer

Kemmerer, Kem MONONA - Kem Kemmerer, age 68, died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, at home with Claudia and Quadro by her side. Kem lived a vibrant life filled with people she loved and who loved her, people she worked and cared for as a Madison police officer and later as a page at the Monona Library, and the dachshunds who were her companions all through her life. She was a caring neighbor who devised games for the neighbor's children, helped and often spear-headed household projects for neighbors, loaned her trusty truck to all who needed it, and contributed significantly to the camaraderie of her neighborhood. Neighborhood kids Alex and Victoria, now young adults, remember she loved to play games with them. The neighborhood “walkers”, Mary, Sue, Kem and I, made sure we got our early morning walk! Though living long distances from her siblings she maintained close and loving relationships with her brothers and sisters (Jim, Jan, Paul, Les, Loretta and Ralph) who gathered every three years. Kem was particularly close to goddaughters, Ellen and Carla, and friend Nicole, all of whom she knew from childhood. Their visits, in particular over the last couple years, always brightened Kem's days. Kem was truly a renaissance woman, her skills and interests included gardening and food preservation, golfing, household repairs of all types, flower arranging, gift wrapping (this particularly endeared her to the gift recipients!) and museum quality woodworking. She excelled as a community based police officer receiving commendations for her work, and recently was presented with the new Madison Police Department's excellence coin by Chief Mike Kovall. She loved her retirement job at Monona Library and is remembered by the staff for the beautiful flower arrangements she brought from her garden. I treasure the 37 years I shared with Kem as her life partner. We read countless books, raised several dachshunds and cats, canned more vegetables than I would have thought possible and provided unconditional love and support to each other. Kem and I are grateful for the love and support from so many friends and neighbors during the years of treatments Kem went through for cancer. In particular she would want to thank Beth, Nicole, Ellen, Carla, Carolyn and Eric, Donna and Liz, Mary, Alex and Victoria, Dede and Al, Karen and Linda and Charlie and Sue. Kak, Kate and Dawn helped more than they know to ease the pain she endured from treatments with their excellent and loving professional care. Though Kem is gone too soon, she lived, loved and enjoyed all her days thanks to the wonderful people in her life. Memorials may be made to New Harvest Foundation (www.newharvestfoundation.org) where Kem served as a board member. She championed gay rights all her adult life and would be pleased for us to continue to support NHF in her name. A Celebration of Life will take place in Kem's yard amongst her flowers on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420