Jack Kempner

Born January 5, 1917 in New York City. Only child of Sadie Wald Kempner, and Emanual Kempner. Mother died when he was seven; father at 13. Lived with various relatives until graduated high school at 16, and found a full-time job. Rented a furnished room near cousins, and lived there until married.

Grew up in and attended grade and high schools in the metropolitan area of New York and New Jersey.

Married Marjorie Harriet Wasserthal in 1941 a day after receiving a commission as Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Celebrated 53 years of married life before she passed away in 1995.

Graduated from New York University in 1947 after a 6 year interruption while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Began Naval career as an officer candidate in 1940 as the 11th volunteer in the country in the V-7 Officer Candidate program; released to inactive duty in 1946 at the end of World War II as a Commander, and was later recalled to active duty between 1951 and 1953 during the Korean War.

During World War II saw active duty in the Southwest Pacific on PT Boats, originally turning over the PT 109 to Jack Kennedy in March 1943 at the advanced training base in Panama. Returned to the States to command a new squadron of PTs, and then returned to the Pacific seeing action in the Solomon Islands, Bismarks, and New Guinea areas.

Received a Masters degree in Accounting at University of Colorado, in 1953 while on active duty with the Navy during the Korean War, and a Ph.D. in Accounting at The Ohio State University in 1956. Became certified as a CPA in 1957.

Spent professional career during and after leaving the Navy in academia on the faculties of Columbia University and University of Colorado teaching Naval Science and eventually as professor of Accounting at California Western University, The Ohio State University and lastly at the University of Montana where he joined the accounting and finance department in 1956, retiring from that institution in 1981.

From 1962 to 1964 took a temporary leave of absence; joining the faculty of Michigan State University in Sao Paulo, Brazil organizing the first Graduate School of Business in that country.

Served as Chairman of Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Montana from 1966 until retirement. Spent one year during this period as Acting Dean of the School of Business Administration until a permanent dean was appointed. Chose not to be a candidate for this position but preferred to remain in teaching.

Elected as President of the Montana Society of CPAs in 1967; was named CPA of the year in 1970 by that organization, and in 1976 was named National Educator of the year by the American Accounting Association. Included in Who's Who in Education as well as Who's Who in America. The School of Business Administration designated the seminar classroom to be known as The Professor Kempner and Marge Kempner Room in its new building.

Member of Missoula Rotary Club, active in several community organizations including Boards of Directors of Missoula Crippled Childrens' Association, Missoula Aging Service, Meals on Wheels, and others.

Published articles in the Accounting Review, Banking, and Montana Business Quarterly as well as several monographs surveying the public accounting profession in Montana and the Northwest.

Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Missoula, past chairman of the Finance Committee and past President of the Church Corporation. Taught numerous adult Bible Study classes over a period of twenty plus years.

Remarried in 1998 to Luceile Rodewald Sperry. Survivors include wife, Luceile, three sons, Ken and his wife Cheryl of Ashland, Oregon; Roger and his wife Nancy of Omaha, Nebraska and Cliff of Seattle Washington; three grandchildren, Brandon, Jessica and Christopher.

Memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Missoula, MT on Saturday 1/23/2016 at 10 AM. Memorials requested in lieu of flowers may be sent to either First Presbyterian Church of Missoula or the University of Montana School of Business.



Read Jack Kempner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.