History & Related Resources
1911 - 1999

Rudy Kemp

Biography

Biography is currently unavailable. If you have any information to complete this profile, please contact us at 205.795.4176 or info@ahecinfo.org

More Information

Name in US
Rudy Alfred Kemp
Name at Birth
Rudolph Alfred Kempenich
Parents' Name

Margarete Steinberg
(1880-1916)

Max Kempenich
(1860-1922)

Date of Birth
May 4, 1911
Country of Birth
Germany
City of Birth
Emmerich
Sibling(s) Name(s)

Erna Frederike Kempenich (Dr. Alfred Leopold Einstein)
(1902-1990)

Erich Kempenich
(1903-1944)

Walter Heinz (Heinrich) Kempenich
(1909-1953)

Spouse(s) Name(s)

Margareta (Greta) Sybilla Nathan
(1912-2007)
Married October 10, 1935 in Emmerich, Germany

Rudy and Greta met at the family department store where Greta worked (Nathan and Gompertz).

Rudy and Greta were the last couple to be married in the synagogue in Emmerich, two years before they fled across that bridge over the Rhine. Standing on a pedestal in front of them on their wedding day was the four-foot tall brass Emmerich menorah.

Children's Names

Alfred “Fred” Kemp (Madalyn Tonkel)
(February 10, 1939 – February 24, 2012)

Donald “Don” Kemp (Gail Sopkin; Pat)
November 12, 1951 – March 9, 1988

Margaret Jean “Jeanne” Kemp (Steve Ginsburg)
June 19, 1947 – ?

Religious Identity (Prewar)
Jewish
Religious Identity (Postwar)
Jewish
Other Experiences

Rudy’s father Max, along with a business partner, owned the largest department store in Emmerich. In the US, Rudy would go on to found Tapecraft Corporation, which manufactured narrow tape zippers, clothing, labels, and book bindings.

27 members of Rudy’s family died in concentration camps. Of the 100 Jews in Emmerich, only 32 escaped.

Year / City / Ship to US
December 11, 1937/ New York, NY / SS Washington
Date Moved to Alabama
1937
Alabama City of Residence
Anniston
Date of Death
July 16, 1999
City of Death
Anniston
City of Burial / Cemetery
Anniston / Highland Cemetery
Dates Lived in Alabama
1937–1999

Resources