ST. LOUIS (KTRS) It was a sea of blue as firefighters lined up Friday to say goodbye to one of their own.
Capt. John Kemper was gravely injured while battling a fire on the fourth of July. Kemper was one of four firefighters hospitalized while fighting those fires. He was released from the hospital a few days later and died at his home July 12th.

At the funeral service at Harris-Stowe State University, many remembered him for his gift of gab, his love for his family, and his humility.

Fire trucks lined the streets near Harris-Stowe Friday as Capt. Kemper was carried through a sea of blue, his casket carried to the cemetery by a fire truck. Firefighters from St. Louis County and surrounding municipal departments handled city fire calls to allow their city colleagues to attend Kemper’s funeral.

A 24-year veteran of the department, Kemper was promoted to captain in 2008. He was 59 years old.

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said even after Kemper became captain, he would often say, “I’m just a firefighter.”