Jack Kramer

Jack Oliver Kramer was born Aug. 27, 1931, in Cape Girardeau. His parents were Ivan Oliver Kramer and Lillian Geordean Huckstep.

He died Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at his home in Cape Girardeau.

From 1941 through 1945 Jack lived with his parents in Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. His father, Ivan, served in the Civil Service during World War II and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio; Tyndale Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida; and Dyersburg Air Force Base near Ripley, Tennessee. His dad was one of the few men blessed with the ability to modify the B-25 bomber used to bomb Toyko at the beginning of WWII.

Jack graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1949. In April 1950, he joined the Navy and was an aviation electronics technician assigned to drone units that were just being developed and used for various purposes during the Korean War. During his tenure in the Navy, he served two cruises of duty, the first on the heavy cruiser Rochester and the second on the battleship Missouri, where the treaty was signed that ended WWII.

Immediately upon his discharge from the Navy, he married Marjory Laura Kumkel of Durand, Michigan. He spent the next 10 years in Michigan, where he briefly attended Michigan State University, and then worked in the insurance industry for eight years.

In 1960 he returned home to Cape Girardeau with his wife, Margie, and their son, Scott. He was employed as a district manager of the Automobile Club of Missouri for 38 years until his retirement in 1994, having received many awards as a top salesman.

Jack was active in community service. He was a member of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education for six years, serving for three years as the president from 1970-1972. It was during this time that the State of Missouri adopted the teacher tenure program over which he presided. He also served as a member of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Board and held a seat on the Cape Girardeau Special Road District.

He loved to play golf and played for more than 50 years. He had only one hole-in-one during all those years of play.

Jack was a member of the first congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cape Girardeau organized in 1961, serving as the first branch clerk. During the intervening years of his life, he served as a bishop, district president, patriarch and, finally, for 23 years as a sealer in the St. Louis Temple.

He is survived by his sister, Karen Hales; three grandchildren, Karlye, Brad and Ashley; and, eight great-grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Margie Kramer, and son, Scott Kramer. Jack was blessed to have a very rich life with many friends and acquaintances.

A special thank you to Brett Cardin, RN, and the many other nurses and staff members with Mercy Hospice for their excellent care.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the funeral home.

Burial, with full military honors, will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.