Bruce Mitchell Kemp

Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Bruce never gave up. He remained strong and determined. He did not fear death. His sole regret was leaving those he loved.

At the time of his passing, Bruce was a project manager and business analyst for General Dynamics Information Technology. His professional journey would commence in Chicago at a major photo lab and eventually lead him to Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked tirelessly for 21 years at Meredith Publishing, leveraging his passion for photography to pioneer digital imaging technology for esteemed publications such as Ladies Home Journal and Better Homes & Gardens.

When he found his love, Jan (his “Texas Sweet Tea”), Bruce and his beloved dog, Cubbie Bear would relocate to Austin, Texas transitioning into a new chapter, working with USAA and later Charles Schwab, empowering families to secure their financial futures. Notably, Bruce was dedicated to serving military families manage their financial security. Helping military families like his, was just another example of the kind of man Bruce was, an inspiration. Anyone who knew Bruce knew his vast knowledge, he knew much about everything! He was quite the intellect, articulate, compassionate and loving, a man of uncompromising integrity and remarkable character. He walked the walk as his father, the late Robert E. Kemp had.

Born October 20, 1956, on a U.S. Air Force Base in Lockbourne, Ohio, Bruce's early life was a canvas of adventure, marked by frequent relocations that instilled in him a love for diverse cultures and experiences. He began exploring the world at age 14, traversing Europe and the Mediterranean, nurturing a passion for history, art and photography. His travels took him to Florence and its iconic Ponte Vecchio, a place that resonated deeply with him. He made the trek back to Morocco hoping to connect with his Berber Fatima who cared for him as a young child, staying with local farmers who invited him into their home. He also cultivated his childhood passion for the ocean, becoming a scuba diver and underwater photographer advocating for ocean conservation and the protection of marine life, which earned him recognition as an ambassador of Ocean Conservancy to Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, in 2016, a testament to his dedication.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Jan Renee' Kemp (nee Haning); his daughter, Nicole Renee West and her husband Justin, along with their children Olivia and Gavin, of Aliso Viejo, California; his stepson, Nicholas James Gargiulo, wife Lauren, and their children, Sawyer and Sutton of Dripping Springs, Texas; his mother, Barbara A. Kemp of Michigan City; sister, Lisa Hebner and her family in Plymouth, Indiana; and brother, Mark Kemp of Holland, Michigan.

In addition to family, (aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins), Bruce is also survived by his “Wiesbaden Friends”, the rarest of friends, as they are part of his chosen family. Once American high-school students stationed abroad trying to hold onto relationships for whatever the “length of the tour”, this very special group of friends would transcend and endure. Bruce loved his friends dearly.

And so his legacy lives on in each of his four grandchildren, as he shared his many passions with them, a never ending thirst for knowledge, his love of all nature especially our vast oceans, his gift for photography capturing nature’s beauty, his love for sports including basketball and his Chicago Bears, kindling a love for life and a legacy that will continue to inspire.

In accordance with his wishes, his family will return his earthly remains to is beloved ocean waters. May his beautiful soul journey on in the heavens above where only love exists, where pain is no more. Until we meet again…

There will be a celebration of his life at the Botanical Gardens in Zilker Park in downtown Austin, Texas beginning at 1 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2026.