I use two stoves for this purpose, depending on what I'm doing.

1) SVEA 123 aquired at a garage sale. Once you know how to start one in the cold there is absolutely nothing to go wrong with one. It burns White Gas (Coleman fuel) or gasoline just fine. I normally burn only white gas. This stove also simmers well. (The Whisperlite does not) As this stove is pumpless, if you find one you should practice in cold weather first before going out and depending on it (It's very doable, just know what to do)

2) MSR Whisperlite (Whisperloud) - Mostly idiot proof but clean 'em at the end of the season. It burns White Gas well. My model is not the international so it doens't do kerosene.
Don't burn gasoline in em, clogs it up. Throws a lot more heat than the SVEA can, however I
don't typically blast either stove at full tilt for snow melting. You don't need to.

Either it a good choice. Kerosene is fine but smells more and is harder to get lit up (you'll have more stove flaring), so if you have a choice, white gas.