S. E. Kemp received a telegram this Thursday morning announcing the death of his son, Meredith, at Harvard, Massachusetts. The first of the week a letter came from a friend of Meredith telling of his illness of pneumonia. Wednesday a telegram came which said that his condition was serious and this was followed by the one this morning announcing his death. The news is a terrible blow to the family and a shock to all who know him as he had always been a stout, healthy boy. He finished the radio course at Great Lakes and was sent to Harvard for six months for further instructions and was about ready to leave for overseas. No further particulars have been learned. The body will be sent to Blair, however. The sympathy of a host of friends is extended to the family.

Enterprise 27 Sept 1918

Last week’s Enterprise contained a brief mention of the death of Meredith Kemp, from such indefinite information as was procurable at that time, report of the distressing fatality being received, by wire to his parents, on the eve of going to press.

The body arrived here Monday morning and funeral service was held at the Congregational church, of which deceased was a member, on Tuesday at 2:30 P.M., a large assemblage being present to pay a last tribute of respect to one who had made the ultimate sacrifice in behalf of liberty, freedom and justice.

Five members of the local company of Home Guards acted as pallbearers and a military escort of six members of the Home Guards, under arms, guarded the remains to the rave and fired the parting salute, at the close of the exercises at the cemetery.

Rev. A. R. Jones preached the funeral discourse at the church, which was filled to overflowing and on the lawn and walks and street in front by sympathetic friends.

Nothing that may be said in a newspaper or by a minister of the gospel regarding Meredith Kemp’s life will be add one iota to his reputation for honor, truthfulness and young manhood in this community, where he was born and reared and commanded the universal esteem of everybody. Nor will multiplicity of words, or admiration for, or commendation of the character of deceased, lessen in any degree the grief of his loved ones.

Tribune 26 Sept 1918

Meredith B. Kemp Is Laid To Rest

The funeral of Meredith Kemp, who died at Harvard, Mass., and whose body was sent home, arriving here Monday morning was held at the Congregational church at 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, Sept. 24 and was one of the most largely attended funerals ever held in this city. The business houses were closed during the funeral and the schools were closed in order to permit the pupils and teachers to attend.

The front of the little church was banked high with floral offerings, tributes to the memory of the war boy who had given his life for his country as truly as though he had died on the field of battle. He was preparing himself for one of the important positions in the service of the government, and was a student in the radio department of Harvard college when he died. His illness was of short duration; the first intimation his parents had was a brief letter from Meredith stating that he was not feeling well, but added, “Don’t worry about me.” Ever thoughtful of the loved ones at home he had tried to comfort them with this little message. Worry! What mother, father and sisters do not worry about their dear ones when so far away, and especially when it is known that they are even physically indisposed? A letter came next from a friend of Meredith, stating that he was too ill to write, and soon a telegram came from the hospital authorities stating that he was dangerously ill, and only a few hours afterwards the wire flashed, the sorrowful message that the greatly beloved son and brother had passed away. The body was then ordered sent home.

When the funeral cortege wended its way into the little building that had been Meredith’s church home from the time he attended Sunday school as a tiny boy, all that was mortal of this young soldier was borne into the room on the shoulders of six former companions, friends and schoolmates in the uniform of the nation: Capt. C. E. Gaydou, 1st Lieut. Bernard Haller, 2nd Lieut. E. M. Beaty 1st Sergt. Parker Ollerman, Corp. Frances Haller and Sergt. Bernard Lundt.

The funeral obsequies were in charge of the local pastor, Rev. A. Jones, assisted by Rev. W. H. Underwood, pastor of the Methodist church, who delivered splendid eulogies on the life of the deceased. A quartette consisting of the Misses Ethel Mead, Mary Cook, and the Messrs. Don C. Van Deusen and G. A. Harkness contributed the music.

This was Blair’s first military funeral and all the honors that go with it were accorded Meredith. The escort consisted of Corp. Kenneth Tyson, Raymond Bross, George Hain, Gus Kundel, Clarence Gocheneur, John Hansen and Howard Griffith, and at the cemetery they fired a salute of three volleys over the flag draped casket of their comrade.

Meredith Bryan Kemp was born in Blair August 12, 1896, was educated in the city schools and at Doane College, Crete, and for the past few years had spent his vacations on the farm of his uncle, Clarence Sheldon, near Columbus. He was a favorite at home, in school, and among the entire community because of his sunny disposition and frankness of manner, and he will never be forgotten by those who knew him. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Kemp, and besides his parents, there are left to sincerely mourn his untimely death, his sisters, Gladys, Lucile and Geraldine, the latter now Mrs. Frank Stewart, his grandmothers, Mrs. Mary Kemp and Mrs. Lizzie Patrick, and many other relatives and a legion of friends

The family will have as a consolation in the years to come the thought that the trials of his young life were only transient, but the joys will be eternal.

CARD OF THANKS

We cannot express our sincere appreciation for the many words of love and comfort, acts of kindness, also beautiful floral offerings as a last tribute to our son and brother so dear t us.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our many friends.

Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Kemp; Lucile Kemp; Gladys Kemp Geraldine Kemp Stewart

Enterprise 20 Sept 1918

Meredith Kemp Is Dead

Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Kemp received the sad announcement, by telegraph, yesterday forenoon, that their only son, Meredith, had died of pneumonia, at Boston, Mass. A letter was received earlier, in the week, apprising them of his illness and on Wednesday a telegram telling that his condition was critical.

Meredith enlisted some five months ago in the radio branch of the navy and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training camp to prepare himself for service. He pursued his studies there with energetic application and passed a successful examination and was sent to the Harvard Institute Radio school for a six month’s course to equip himself for service.

Meredith was an only son, the idol of his parents and his three devoted sisters. He was the pride, not only of his family, but of everybody in Blair who had watched him grow to young manhood without a blemish on his character. No young many in Blair was so handsomely equipped mentally, physically and morally as Meredith Kemp.

Sympathetic words to his bereaved parents and sisters are but a hollow mockery and can assuage none of their grief; time only can heal their wounded hearts.

The body will be brought here for interment.

Note: Meredith is buried in Blk 55 Lot 5 Grave 12 in Blair Cemetery. Find a Grave # 75992894.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~