CREATE TABLE table_204_734 (id DECIMAL, "first name" TEXT, "surname" TEXT, "death year" DECIMAL, "beginning of\ service" TEXT, "end of\ service" TEXT, "notes" TEXT)

what first name is just previous to kempf ?
SELECT "first name" FROM table_204_734 WHERE id = (SELECT id FROM table_204_734 WHERE "first name" = 'kempf') - 1
SELECT "first name" FROM "table_204_734" WHERE "id" = (SELECT "id" FROM "table_204_734" WHERE "first name" = 'kempf') - 1