Oct. 30, 2002 — A memorial service for St. Thomas artist Jens-Peter Kemmler, 63, will be held at 3 p.m Sunday, Nov. 3 at the St. Thomas Reformed Church. Kemmler, known to most as "Peter," died Oct. 8 at Cedars Medical Center in Miami from complications associated with liver cancer, secondary to hepatitis C. He was cremated.
Kemmler, who had lived on St. Thomas since 1967, was born in Ebling, Germany (now part of Poland), and migrated to Michigan with his family at age 15. He was educated at the New York School of Interior Design and the Detroit Institute of Art.
Kemmler helped operate Café Brittany in Creque's Alley in the late 60s to mid 70s with Jerry Meyer, with whom he moved to the island. He worked for some cumulative 20 years at Cardow Jewelers in advertising & graphic design. He had previously worked at A.H. Riise, and for developer John Anderson, and had engaged in numerous free lance art and design projects over the years.
Kemmler is survived by two sisters, Margret Paas of Arizona, and Karin Weihs of Michigan; long-time companion Edward C. Jones; and close friends—including Judi Nagelberg, Gail Garrison, Merle "Mimi" Richards, Charles Smith, Greg Samuel, Daphne Gumbs, Al Wilson of New York; godson Kahlil Caesar; and the Friday evening "Movie Club" members— Brenda Iniama, Cathy Dorset, Martha Moron, Julie Armbruster (and Garrison). Other close friends include Jayne Winter, Frances Kunkel , and Jamila Harris.
Peter had many other friends — too numerous to list; fellow artists; co-workers at Cardow Jewelers; and several nieces and nephews. Kemmler had been an active member of the Hugga Bunch Carnival Troupe for several years. He had also been passionately involved in several efforts concerned with the preservation of the environment and aesthetic in St. Thomas.
Donations may be made in his name to the School of Visual Arts and Careers in lieu of flowers. Please contact Phebe Schwartz, director, at 776-4566 or 775-2739 for further details. Mailing address: POB 600193, St. Thomas, VI 00801.
