Hedwig Bucher Kemp

Our fun, loving, witty mother and grandmother, Hedwig “Hedy” Karoline Bucher Kemp, age 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 6, 2019 in West Valley City, Utah. She passed away one month prior to her 96th birthday.

Hedy was born on November 4, 1923 in Trochjel, Yugoslavia to Maria Eigle and Karl Bucher. She met her sweetheart, Thomas James Kemp during World War II in Frankfurt, Germany. They were later married in Frankfurt on September 6, 1947. After the war, she and her sweetheart moved back to the US and she became a citizen on November 18,1954. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maria Eigle and Karl Bucher; her husband, Thomas James Kemp; and son, Dale William Kemp.

Hedy was a beautiful, strong, independent woman. She worked and retired from the Deseret Press, where she supervised the binding of the Book of Mormon. She loved to waltz, crochet, play card games with family and friends, go camping and fishing, and even taking the occasional drive to Wendover to play the slot machines.

She enjoyed sitting on her front porch swing watching the cars go by with her sweetheart by her side, her dogs on her lap, and a diet soda or coffee in her hand. There was always Polka music playing in the background in her home. She made the best fried chicken, sauerkraut, cucumber salad, German potatoes, strawberry cake and German apple strudel cake. She would always tap her hand on her knee, living in the moment, listening to her husband and son sing and play their guitars. It was tradition to eat sauerkraut and potatoes at the stroke of midnight in her home on New Years Day. She would always have a smile on her face anytime we walked in the door. She will be missed immensely for her humor and happy smile, but will be sweetly cherished in our memories forever.

Her last few years were spent in the loving care of her son and daughter in law, who worked tirelessly, making sure she was happy and well cared for in their home.

She is survived by her sons, Thomas Kemp and Karl (Carolyn) Kemp; 10 grandchildren; 38 great- grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and aids from Elevation Hospice who loved and cared for Hedy.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 14th, 1:00 PM at the Marcrest 1st Ward, 6170 West Marcrest Drive (3085 S). A viewing will be held prior to the services at 12:00 PM. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens.

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