Don Kemner spent 21 years in ministry as a Catholic priest and high school teacher while a member of the Franciscan Order and subsequently the Servants of the Paraclete. He served as Secretary to the Servant General of the Servants of the Paracletes (Jemez Springs, NM); as Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary (Barre, VT) and as Assistant Director of St. Michael’s House of Studies (St. Louis, MO). Mr. Kemner later owned and operated the Don H. Kemner State Farm Insurance Agency, Inc. (Chesterfield, MO) for 23 years.

Since the early 1960's, Mr. Kemner has participated in organizations focusing on solving the problems of the non-democratic character of the political, economic, religious, and academic institutions of society. Examples include his service as a board member of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church, and involvement in the World Federalist Association and the Institute of Peace and Justice.

This life experience led to Mr. Kemner's association with Senator Mike Gravel and his acceptance of membership on the board of Philadelphia II in 1993. He was appointed Secretary in 1996.

Don Kemner’s academic background includes a collegiate major in philosophy and professional study in theology through the Franciscan Chicago-St. Louis seminary system; study in accounting at Loyola University (Chicago); business administration at Notre Dame (South Bend) and philosophy of Martin Heidegger at De.Paul University (Chicago).