Gary Dwayne Kempf was born on April 24, 1942, in Clinton, Oklahoma and passed away on February 15, 2022, in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 79. Gary was raised on his parent’s, G.J. and Elsie Kempf’s, farm in Western Oklahoma and loved to visit that farm whenever he had a chance. Although he lived most of his life “in town,” first, in Clinton, then Ponca City, and then Oklahoma City, Oklahoma he was a farm boy at heart. In 2021, he moved with his wife, Jacque to Webster Groves, Missouri to be closer to his daughter and only grandson. Gary was the first person in his immediate family to attend college, graduating from Southwestern State University (now Southwestern Oklahoma State University) with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He was really good at math. After he graduated from college, Gary volunteered to serve his country in the United States Army, where he was assigned to work in the Army Security Agency. He achieved the rank of Specialist 5, before he was Honorably Discharged in 1968. During his time in the service, while stationed in Japan, he volunteered to teach English Slang to Japanese students. It was one of his favorite memories from his time in the Army. During his service, Gary was awarded several Certificates of Achievement for Meritorious Service, a National Defense Service Metal, and a Good Conduct Metal. After his military service, Gary worked for several oil and gas companies as an accountant during the Oklahoma Oil Boom in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He met and married Jacque Stuck on October 31, 1969, and they were lovingly married for 52 years before his passing. He and Jacque brought two children into this world, a son and daughter, and he lived to meet and enjoy his only grandson, Ethan. Gary was stubborn and funny, sensitive, and empathetic, impulsive and a risk taker, could talk to anyone, anywhere, was a good son, and always did his very best to take care of his family. He loved to be outside, drive his pick-up trucks, eat ice cream, his all-time favorite of Jacque’s cats, Joey, and playing marbles with his grandson, Ethan. He was a crack expert at fixing everything with bailing wire and caulking the driveway. Gary battled bi-polar depression for most of his life, but even with that challenge was able to live a good life and have good times with his family who loved him very much and will miss him terribly.

Gary is survived by his wife, Jacque Lee Kempf (Stuck), and his daughter, Amber Lee Kempf, his son-in-law, Stephen Joseph Klaus, his grandson, Ethan Arthur Klaus, who live in Clayton, Missouri, and his son Jason Dean Kempf, and his daughter-in-law Lacy Lynn Kempf (Sears) who live in Edmond, Oklahoma.

A Memorial Service will be held to honor Gary’s life at a time yet to be determined at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5701 S. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73119. At their request, the graveside burial service will be private and for family only.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gary’s honor, to the Memorial Fund for Trinity Lutheran Church and can be sent to the address listed above.