Kathleen Ellen Kemmer

Kathleen (Kat) Kemmer

Tucson - Dr. Kathleen Ellen Kemmer, 72, died peacefully in the early hours of Monday May 12, 2025, in hospice after a long illness. She was surrounded in her last days by her beloved daughter Amber, brother John, nephew Remy, niece Heather and close cousins Linda and Dave Maggio and Eileen, Brian, and Jeffrey Wagner, and was able to hear and acknowledge last goodbyes and prayers not only from those visiting in person, but also electronically from her sister Suzanne Kemmer and her wide circle of cousins and friends, notably cousin Marian Berg R.N., her “partner in crime“ from early days, and her best friend Wendy, mentioned below. 

Kathleen, universally known as Kat from her teen-age years, was born December 26, 1952 to †Robert (1918-1990) and †Marie (1921-1973) Kemmer in Chicago Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, their siblings and spouses who included many dear aunts and uncles, and her elder sister †Mary Frances Feser (1951-2003). Kat is survived by her daughter, Amber D. Grantham (Scott), her grandsons Carter and Finley Grantham, siblings Margaret Miller (†Richard), Anita Meyer (†Darryel), Suzanne Kemmer (Michael Barlow), John Kemmer, and her nephews and niece †Nick Feser, Joseph Feser, William Miller, Heather Meyer, Remy Kemmer, Ryan Kemmer, and a wide circle of first cousins and their families, including the Martin cousins, the Berg cousins, Mary Phillipe (Mike), and second cousins in Germany. She also leaves behind many good friends from various phases of her life, prime among them her oldest and best friend Wendy Wharton (Bill), who was by her side throughout many life events, joys, and crises. 

Kat became actively religious in her later life, and was a member of the Calvary Christian Church in Oro Valley, Arizona for which she volunteered until her health no longer permitted it. 

After early coursework at Roosevelt and Wright Colleges in Chicago (part-time; she always worked while studying), Kat moved to Arizona in 1974 and a few years later earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Arizona State University. She was by profession a Human Resources specialist, and after a series of corporate jobs became a consultant and trainer in the Los Angeles area.  She then naturally transitioned to teaching graduate level courses in subjects related to business and human resources in various colleges and universities, on the way earning an MA and MBA from Chapman University, and ultimately a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Argosy University – Orange County. After her move back to Tucson in 2021, Kat continued teaching graduate courses online at Westcliff University until her last health crises no longer permitted it. Once she started teaching more than 20 years ago, it quickly became her passion and she earned several commendations from the institutions of higher education where she taught.

Kat was an accomplished artist, leaving behind very many beautiful paintings, pastel drawings, and artworks with special techniques like her latest favorite, spin art (a.k.a. “the puppy pool”.) She had a unique style, choosing subjects from the natural world, especially the ocean and her favored habitats of beach, desert, and rainforest, and their flora and fauna, especially birds and tropical and desert flowers. Her relation to color was intense: she favored bright and varied colors and her work was alive with color. It’s not too much to say that, during the creation process at least, she thought in color. Kat was very creative all around and was also proficient in crafts and sewing. 

Kat was a lover of cats and had a number in her lifetime. Most recently she had the Candy Sisters, Lollypop and Licorice, who predeceased her. She would have had more cats in her life had she been able to care for more. It’s fair to say that she identified with cats, in particular their free spirit and independence which matched her own. 

Kat loved to travel and visited many places in the U.S., as well as the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Italy, and Germany, where she visited her Kemmer cousins, the first cousins of her father, and their descendants, in Sindeldorf, Baden-Wurttemberg. Kat also lived in South Korea in 1977-78 with her then husband, James Maggio, when he was in the U.S. Army stationed near the DMV. This was an adventure she never forgot since her daughter, Amber Maggio Grantham, was the lovely outcome of that time. 

Kat never lost her Chicago accent despite living most of her life in the west: in Tempe, AZ, Arvada, CO, Sacramento, CA, in greater L.A. near Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, and, at different periods, in Tucson. Her true home, in fact, was Tucson, both because of family, and because the light and heat of the sunny desert clime suited her and she never had to feel cold. 

What Kat loved most was spending time with her family and her friends. She was a true extrovert and drew energy from people. She was a fun-loving person and loved to laugh; She seemed to create a party wherever she was. She loved children and loved especially to have fun with the children of her Tucson cousins. She loved to play Scrabble and especially of late, pinochle with her beloved cousins Linda and Dave Maggio who were her staunch friends and helpers, and cherished time with their daughter Vanessa Maggio and granddaughter Hailey Maggio. She also loved to be with her cousins Eileen and Brian and their sons Jeffrey and Keith, who also were great friends and helpers. The Martin family and the Maggio family were the families she was closest to. Kat never forgot how Eileen and Linda’s parents †Robert (1922-2000) and †Eleanor (1927-2005) Martin practically became her surrogate parents, first in Chicago, before and during the time her mother †Marie Kemmer passed away in 1973.  She also loved †Marion (1922-2007) and †Drex (1911-2004) Maggio who were her beloved in-laws. Kat looked forward to a reunion with all of them after this life. 

Kat was an organ and tissue donor via Arizona Donor Network and through this action she was able to save up to 36 lives. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to American Lung Association in the name of Kathleen Kemmer. 

May Kat rest in peace and rise in glory.