Gordon Kemmet

Gordon Henry Kemmet, 80, Bismarck, died suddenly on July 1, 2008.Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 7, at 11:00 AM at United Church of Christ, 1200 East Highland Acres Road, Bismarck, with Rev. Darrel Aleson officiating. Burial will be Monday at 2:00 PM at ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan with military honors provided by the Bismarck AmVets. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 6, from 1:00 – 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service in Bismarck and will continue on Monday one hour prior to the service at the church. Gordon was born on February 8, 1928, in Dawson, ND, the son of John and Martha Weigand Kemmet. He attended school and graduated from Steele High School. He entered the U.S. Army in 1946 and worked as a medical corpsman until his honorable discharge in 1947. He then served with the Army Reserves until 1955. While with the Reserves, he met Phyllis L. Simmons in Steele, ND, and they were married on October 17, 1953. Gordon worked with Northwestern Bell. When they updated his position name to service technician, he still preferred the term “lineman.” After a near perfect attendance record, he retired in 1986 with 38 years of meritorious service. He was proud to be a lifetime member of the Communication Workers of America. Although dedicated to his work and family, his true passion was singing. He sang with the United Church of Christ Choir, Northern Lights Barbershop Chorus, and the Bismarck Mandan Elks Chorus. Gordon still loved a good game of pinochle with his best buddies at the VFW and AmVets, where he was a charter lifetime member. Among his numerous awards and citations, he also played softball until age 75. He even played with the King and His Court, a four-man team that would take on any 9 to 10 member team, and was chosen All-Star as pitcher for the team. Gordon loved animals, especially his twin miniature Dachshunds, Muffin and Magoo. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his daughter, Cynthia K. Kemmet Williams, her husband, Scott Williams, and their daughter, Gordon’s grandchild, Avery Nicole Williams; his daughter, Michelle M. Kemmet; his son, Ronald G. Kemmet; one brother, Gerald Martha Kemmet; three sisters, Phyllis Sam Roemmich, Darlene Boukather, and Loretta Cassano; three sisters-in-law, Rose Simmons Kenny, Betty Simmons Ouellette Paul, and Barbara Simmons; one brother-in-law, Charles Rose Simmons; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Deloris Cunningham and Lila Kemmet; and two brothers-in-law, Merle M. Kenny and Arlis Simmons.

Gordon Kemmet

February 8, 1928 - July 1, 2008