| Jack Kempton was born and raised in western Kansas.
He had a passion for movies and movie art. He worked in movie theaters,
got married in 1933, then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
After his time in the service he returned to western Kansas and continue
working in movie theatres. During his time in the service, he would send letters home in envelops that he decorated with whimsical drawings. In this small group of letters sent to the Bader family in Kansas, (his wife was Lola, “Molly” Bader) he refers to his parents, Fred & Elena Bader; to his brother-in-law Roy and Roy’s wife Avis and to his sister-in-law Josephine (Jo) and her husband Harvey Sheldon. Molly’s brother Roy Bader died in 1961 and the Kemptons continued to stay in touch with his widow, Avis. In 1969, Avis married my grandfather John Schritter, a longtime family friend, neighbor and recently divorced. In the 1970’s and 1980’s Jack continued to send decorated birthday cards to Avis and John, often celebrating both of their August birthdays on one card. After John and Avis died, most of Avis’s papers came to me for safe-keeping. The family lines of Avis, Roy, and Jack have ended with no descendants. I share these pieces from my archive to help celebrate the lives of these people. Nathan Kramer, 2023 Omaha, Nebraska |
|
|
|
|
| Letter: Oct. 19, 1943 |
Letter: Jan. 26, 1944 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Letter: April 13, 1944 |
Letter: Jun 24, 1944 (no letter) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Letter: Dec. 20, 1944 |
Letter: April 2, 1945 |
|
|
|
| Birthday Card |
Birthday Card |
|
|
|
|
| Birthday Card |
Birthday Card |
|
|
|
|
| Birthday Card |
Birthday Card |
|
|
|
|
| Birthday Card |
1981 Birthday Card |
|
|
||
| 1977 Birthday Card |
||