We are very sorry to report that Joan Kempf, owner of JD Liquor in Arkansas City, passed away in September.  Joan was a very active KABR member and served on the Board of Directors.  We will miss Joan.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband John and her family.

Joan Richardson Kempf

Obituary Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 12:00 am  Arkansas City Traveler

Joan Richardson Kempf, 81, of Arkansas City, passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, at her residence.

She was the beloved wife of John D. Kempf.

Cremation has been effected.

Services will Sept. 29, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Arkansas City.

The Reverend Stephanie Wall Brown will officiate.

Joan was born Jan. 4, 1934, to Rutherford Matthew Richardson and Doris (Jones) Richardson in Camden, Ark.

She attended Fairview High school in Camden, graduating in 1952.

Joan first worked as a secretary for the Arkansas Press Association in Little Rock, Ark.

She then earned her wings as a stewardess for American Airlines and was stationed in Dallas, Texas.

While living in Dallas, she met and married 1st Lieutenant Francis Plonowski, a US Air Force pilot.

Together, they lived in various locations throughout the United States and overseas including England, Morocco, France and Japan.

During this time she worked as a keypunch operator for the Frigidaire Corporation and as a homemaker raising two children.

The family moved to Horseheads, N.Y., where Joan worked as a secretary for the General Electric Company.

It was at GE that Joan met John.

The couple married on Aug. 1, 1981, and moved to Grove City, Pa.

They settled in Arkansas City in 1984.

Joan has been the owner-operator of Kempf Liquor and JD Liquor stores in Arkansas City since 1989.

She was an active member of Soroptomist International where she served as Governor of the South Central Region from 2004-2006.

Joan enjoyed cooking, crossword puzzles, crafts, golf and entertaining.

She is survived by her husband, John D. Kempf, of the home; daughter, Cynthia Peverall, and husband, David, of Alexandria, Va.; son, Michael Plonowski, of Denver, Colo.; sister, Dona Davenport, of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Ian, Cole and Adam Peverall; stepchildren, Jennifer Kempf, of Hyattsville, M.D., Jay Kempf, and wife, Leslie, of Warren ,Vt., Andrew Kempf, and wife, Beth Ann, of Woodstck, N.Y., Leslie Trembly, and husband, Dennis, of Watkins, Glen, N.Y.; stepgrandchildren, Katie, David and Janie Kempf, and JP and Robbie Trembly.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Joyce Richardson.

Memorials have been established with the Soroptomists in Arkansas City and Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Pa.

Contributions may be made through the funeral home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home, Arkansas City.

Online condolences may be made at www.rindt-erdman.com.