John Kemp, also known by his family as “Sunshine”, was born John Henry Kemp III on April 23, 1944 to Jack and Mildred Kemp II in San Francisco, CA. John is survived by his wife Joanne and their two daughters, Shelly and Susie, two grandchildren, his sister, Andrea Kemp (M-A Class of 1965) her son Adam and two daughters Carrie and Jennifer and his sister-in-law Cleo Elkinton and her two sons, Ryan and Tyler Meade.

John attended grammar schools in San Carlos before moving to Atherton and attending Menlo-Atherton High School, graduating in 1962. He then graduated from Oregon State University with a major in business and a minor in golf. At Menlo-Atherton, John was a very active, gregarious, well-liked student; he played varsity baseball, football and golf.

John met Joanne Elkinton at Oregon State and they were married in 1967. They first lived in Menlo Park where they had their two girls, Susie and Shelly. They then moved to Ladera for 14 years while John worked for his Dad’s trucking company and then for Burger King in their Distron Warehouse and Trucking Company as Regional VP. They then moved to Hinsdale, Illinois where John worked in the food distribution business for Martin Brower as Senior VP of Distribution. In 1998, John and Joanne moved back to California and lived in Portola Valley Ranch. They finally moved to Carmel, Indiana in 2005 to be near their kids and grandkids. John loved being a father to his two daughters, Shelly and Susie (Jim) and he enjoyed being a grandfather to Jack and Jessica.

After his family, John loved golf. John played on the Oregon State golf team and played throughout his life. Following a stroke at age 50, he became one of the best one-arm golfers in the country.

John passed away peacefully in his sleep, on January 22, 2017 after a nine-month battle with brain cancer. A private service was held in Carmel, Indiana and a public Celebration of Life was held at Menlo Country Club where John and Joanne were members and John was the Menlo Country Club Scratch Golf Champion a number of times.

If you would like to donate in John’s name, please do so to St. Vincent Hospice, give.stvincent.org or The First Tee, thefirsttee.org.