Robin Kemker

Wilford "Robin" Kemker was born January 15, 1950 and passed away May 25, 2017 at the age of 67.

Robin was the first of 5 children born to Everita Van Gulik and Jacob Gerrit Kemker and the first of his siblings to be born in America after the migration of his parents from the Netherlands. He was raised in the Salt Lake Valley, graduating from Granite High School, where he was on the track and field team as a high jumper.

Robin had a happy childhood, growing up in a close knit Dutch family. For years, the family caravanned with the Dutch cousins to vacation in many spots including Southern California, where many happy memories were made. Some years later, his father, uncle and two other Dutch families purchased property together at Bear Lake where Robin spent summers boating, sailing, four wheeling, hiking and enjoying family time in the beautiful outdoors. Robin loved the outdoors, it was his happy place.

Robin was raised in a loving LDS home where he developed a love for the scriptures, his Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. He served a fulltime mission to the Netherlands and upon returning from his mission had the privilege of teaching the Dutch language to new missionaries at the LTM at Ricks College in Idaho.

Robin was a graduate of the University of Utah with a BA in management and also served his country in the US Army Reserves as a medic and later with the intelligence department as a linguist. He held many jobs most of which were in the mortgage and financing industries before retiring from his job at Utah Housing.

Robin married Gloria West in the Salt Lake Temple June 28, 1973. In 1986, they welcomed their first daughter Rachel and in 1989, their second daughter Rebecca. Robin loved his girls and was always proud of them.

One of Robin's greatest challenges in his adult life was his struggle with a mental illness. This illness brought with it many life changing events including his divorce from Gloria and the separation from his girls.

After retiring from his job with Utah Housing, Robin moved to Southern California where he was a reporter and photographer for The Epic Times Newspaper. He returned often to Utah to see his girls and spend time with them.

In the fall of 2015, Robin returned to Utah to live with his brother Leon and family. After much anguish, it was decided that Robin needed 24/7 care and he was placed in a care facility where he later suffered a heart attack and died.

We want to thank all the staff at Legacy House and Cottages of South Jordan for the love and care that Robin received while living there (we know it wasn't easy). We would also like to thank his caring physicians Drs Garcia and Pinkerman who helped Robin and us in navigating our way through this last year (we could not have done this without you). In addition, we would like to thank his team of caregivers from Inspiration Home Health and Hospice, and to all those who visited with Robin and loved him unconditionally.

Robin was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his daughters Rachel and Rebecca, sister Luana Zwang, brothers Ralph, Ronald, & Leon Kemker.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 at Salt Lake City Cemetery at 11:00 am.

Funeral Home:
Jenkins-Soffe South Valley
1007 W. South Jordan Parkway
South Jordan, UT 84095