Ludwig Kempe Obituary

Ludwig G. Kempe PISGAH FOREST, NC - Ludwig G. Kempe, 96, passed away on Friday, June 22, 2012. He was born October 16, 1915 in Prenzlau (Brandenburg), Germany. He received his undergraduate education at Konigsberg, Germany and his medical education at the Universities of Zurich and Bern, Switzerland. After training in general surgery, he began his training in neurological surgery at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C. and because he had years of training in neuroanatomy with Villiger, Ludwig, and Bing in Basel, M. Minkowski in Zurich, Switzerland, he continued working in neuroanatomy at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research under Drs. Rioch, W. Nauta, and Mehlers, and at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology under W. Haymaker. After three years of neurosurgery with the U.S. Army in Europe, he returned to Walter Reed as Assistant Chief of Neurosurgery. From 1965-1972, he was Chief of Neurosurgery and Chairman of the Training Program in Neurological Surgery and consultant to the Surgeon General, U.S. Army. At the same time, he was Clinical Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at George Washington University. In 1973, he retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel, and joined the staff of the Medical University, Charleston, S.C. where he was Professor of Neurosurgery and Research Professor of Anatomy; and Consultant in Neurosurgery to the Regional Naval Medical Center. In 1983 he was visiting Professor of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University and George Washington University. Dr. Kempes publications include three books and 120 papers, dealing with a wide range of clinical neurosurgical subjects, surgical technique, and neuroanatomical studies. He has personally illustrated many of these. His publications also include papers on ornithology and comparative anatomy. Most of his publications are illustrated by the author. Dr. Kempe is a member of the: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; American Board of Neurological Surgery (Certified 1960); American College of Surgeons; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Neurochirurgie (Correspondent); Association of Yugoslav Neurosurgeons (Honorary); American Association of Anatomists; and others. He received the Legion of Merit with the Second Oak Leaf Cluster in 1973, the Merito Santo Dumont of Brazil, and the Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic. He was on the Advisory Editorial Board of the Acta Neurochirurgica, Neuroradiology, and Anatomica Clinica. Surviving is his wife, Louise Gwin Kempe. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 pm Friday, July 6, 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brevard. Interment with full military honors will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date at the Medical University of Charleston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one's favorite charity. Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be sent to 510 Valley View Drive, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston