Barbara (Falk) Kemmer

Barbara Falk Kemmer, 74, of Bemidji, MN died Monday, October 30, 2017 at her home surrounded by family and loved ones.

Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 6, 2017 at the First Lutheran Church, Bemidji with Pastor Linnea Papke-Larson officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji.

Barbara Falk Kemmer was born November 12, 1942 in Sāchisch-Regen, Rumania to Wilhelm and Elisabeth (Wachner) Falk. Barb grew up in Austria and moved to the US as a teenager in 1956 when the family settled in Ohio.  She first worked for the airlines, and met her former husband, Roger Kemmer, when they both worked for North Central Airlines at Chicago O’Hare in 1965.  They started their family in Bemidji, but shortly thereafter moved to the Twin Cities.  Barb retired from Health Partners in the Cities after working there for over 30 years, and moved back to Bemidji.  She was an avid gardener and seamstress.  She enjoyed all things outdoors and was not afraid of the cold – she was an avid skier and member of the Ullr Ski Club, and met her partner, Jim, on a winter camping trip in 1995.  She hiked whenever possible, and had many wonderful trips to destinations such as her birth place in Rumania, Austria, Germany, and Australia, where she hiked to the top of Mt. Warning.  Barb was loved and admired by many for her tireless volunteer work at her church and in the community for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran World Relief.  When she was a teenager she came to the US in a dress donated by Lutheran World Relief, so it was only fitting that she eventually became Chairman of First Lutheran Church’s Lutheran World Relief project.  She won many awards and accolades including the Health Partners Wilbur Thomas Community Service Award in 2005, and the Mary Magdalene Award in 2015, given for community service and for promoting the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Her positivity, enthusiasm, and boundless energy will be sorely missed, and her philanthropy is an inspiration to all.

She is survived by children, Dean (Karen) Kemmer of Deer River, MN, Michelle Kemmer of Los Angeles, CA and David (Dawn) Kemmer of Tempe, AZ; grandson, Alan; brothers, Pastor Wilhelm (Sandra) Falk of Munich, Germany, Helmut (Beverly) Falk of Callander, Ontario, Rudolf (Kimberly) Falk of North Bay, Ontario, Karl (Debbie) Falk of Rossford, OH and Hans (Sharon) Falk of Austin, TX; sisters, Gertrude (Tom) Bradley of Perrysburg, OH, Hildegard (John) Bensheimer of Blue Hill, ME, Frieda Falk Rinehart of Austin, TX and Margaret (Chris) Immel of Rutland, VT; partner of 20+ years, James Henn of Bemidji, and countless aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews throughout the US, Canada, and Germany.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilhelm and Elisabeth Falk and step-mother, Ilse Falk.

In lieu of cards and flowers the family prefers memorials to be made in Barb’s name to Northwoods Habitat for Humanity, www.habitatbemidji.org

Online guestbook at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com

 Service Information