Kerry Michael Kemp 27 of Port Washington passed away on March 10 2015 in a helicopter crash during a nighttime training exercise in the pan handle of Florida. Kerry was born August 8 1987 in Memphis TN to Dwight Eric Kemp and Kristina Goldsby Wild. Kerry moved to Port Washington as a tenth grader in 2003. After high school he went to work at Cramer Coil Transformer and began studying to become a registered nurse at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. in July 2007 and served as an Artillery Mechanic. In December 2007 he married his high school sweetheart Jenna (Fowler) Kemp. Kerry and Jenna moved to Twentynine Palms California in March 2008 where he was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion-7. He was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and deployed to Al Asad Iraq serving as a machine gunner. Returning from Iraq he was again meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In September 2010 then Sgt Kemp attended the Marine Corps Forces Special Operation Command (MARSOC) Assessment Selection Course. Staff Sergeant Kemp went on to complete the MARSOC Individual Training Course and earned the primary Military Occupational Specialty of 0372 in May 2012. Sgt Kemp received orders to Camp Lejeune NC to serve with 2D Marine Special Operations Battalion as a Critical Skills Operator. In November 2012 Staff Sergeant Kemp was assigned to Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) 8231. In October 2013 Staff Sergeant Kemp deployed with MSOT 8231 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his deployment Staff Sergeant Kemp participated in over 30 combat full spectrum special operations missions resulting in over 100 enemy kills in action. Staff Sergeant Kemp served as the MSOT's weapons sergeant during the deployment and was responsible for the training maintenance and employment of the team's weapons systems during combat operations. Staff Sergeant Kemp returned from deployment in March 2014 for the birth of his daughter Makenzie. He enjoyed playing with his daughter doing work around the house and spending time with family. After a brief leave period Staff Sergeant Kemp continued his training with MSOT 8231 to prepare for his upcoming deployment. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat distinguishing device and Gold Star in lieu of Second Award the Combat Action Ribbon the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Star in lieu of Second Award and the Navy and Marine Corps Gold Parachutist Wings. Kerry Kemp is survived by his wife Jenna and his daughter Makenzie. Kerry Kemp will always be remembered as a loving husband devoted father and an exceptional United States Marine Raider. Visitation will take place at 3:00 PM on Friday March 27th at the Port Washington High School 427 W. Jackson St. Port Washington with funeral services beginning at 7:00 P.M. Rev. Jeff Suddendorf will officiate the service. Kerry will be laid to rest with full military honors at St. Mary's Cemetery in Port Washington. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Makenzie Kemp Support Fund at GoFundMe.com/makenziekemp. The Eernisse Funeral Home Port Washington is honored to serve the family. Processions for Staff Sgt. Kerry Kemp For those wishing to offer their respects for Staff Sgt. Kerry Kemp and his family information regarding his processions is included below. Community members are invited to line sidewalks or gather in front of their homes as the procession passes by. Please remember this is a solemn tribute for a fallen Marine not a spectacle. Wednesday March 25 2015 There will be a procession escorting SSgt Kemp from the airport to Eernisse Funeral Home. The procession will leave I43 at exit #93. It will continue northeast on Hwy V/32 onto S. Spring St. At the first stop and go light (Grand Ave.) the procession will turn left and continue west on Grand Ave. to the funeral home. Kerry's flight is scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee at 5:15. It is estimated that the funeral procession will arrive in the Port Washington area between 6:15PM and 7 PM. Please check our facebook page for updates that evening with closer time estimates. Saturday March 28 2015 There will be a procession escorting SSgt Kemp from Eernisse Funeral Home to the gates of St. Mary's Cemetery in Port Washington. Private burial within the Cemetery gates will be for FAMILY ONLY. The procession will be leaving Eernisse Funeral Home at 9:30AM going east on Grand Ave. It will continue onto Franklin Street and N. Wisconsin St. The procession will turn left onto W. Beutel Rd and continue west to the cemetery gates.