June Kemp, age 100, of Lomax, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab in Stronghurst, Illinois. She was born June 26, 1925 in Gladstone, Illinois, the daughter of Marshall and Margaret Weller McKeown. On September 22, 1947, she married Harold Kemp. He preceded her in death on May 10, 1972.
Mrs. Kemp was a 1943 graduate of Burlington High School. She had co-owned and operated the Pink Tavern in Lomax for many years. After selling the restaurant, she stayed on and was the main cook for many years. Earlier she was employed at Hotel Burlington and the Burlington Country Club. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and embroidering, and collecting Shirley Temple Dolls. One of her great joys in life was babysitting her “grandbabies”. She was a member of the Lomax Senior Citizens.
Survivors include two daughters, Beverly (Barry) Lillard of Dallas City, IL, Barbara (Steve) Fernetti of Lomax, IL, one son, James Kemp of Tigard, OR, eleven grandchildren, Holly (Jeremy Hall) Shipman, Heidi (Lee) Pindell, David Walker, Ryan (Dana Strawhacker) Walker, Glenn (Jamie) Fernetti, Kellen Fernetti, Bryant (Kacy) Fernetti, Jeffrey Kemp, Jeremy Kemp, Sarah (Joel) Batmale, and Amy Swisher, eight great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and one daughter, Becky Swisher.
The funeral service for Mrs. Kemp will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst, with Pastor Maxine Dennison officiating. Burial will follow in the Stronghurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials have been established for St Jude Children’s Hospital and PAWS of Fort Madison, Iowa. Please visit Mrs. Kemp’s obituary at banksandbeals.com to leave a condolence.
