Roy Aloysius Kramer, formerly of Melrose, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at the age of 75 years, and six months at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
A visitation will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Osterberg Funeral Home in Jackson, Minn. Burial with Military Honors will take palce immediately following the vistation at the Riverside Cemetery in Jackson.
The son of Henry and Laura (Schiltz) Kramer, Roy was born on May 17, 1941, in Melrose, Minn. He attended St. Boniface Catholic Grade School and Melrose High School completing the 11th grade. After leaving school, Roy was employed at a metal shop in Melrose until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 16, 1963. While stationed in San Diego, CA, Roy proudly defended our county in the Vietnam War aboard the USS Chicago CG11. After his honorable discharge on Oct. 3, 1967, he worked as an apprentice woodworker and Toyota mechanic in California until his return to Melrose. Roy returned to work at Tieman Ford, before moving to Jackson. While in Jackson, Roy was employed by Tufvesson Motor, Tom Burns Ford and Johnson Ford, until the closure of the dealership. While working for Tom Burns Ford, Roy met Peggy Johnson and the couple was united in marriage at the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson on Oct. 26, 1979. The couple remained in Jackson and were blessed with their daughter, Holly, raising her in the Presbyterian faith. Following the closure of Johnson Ford, Roy took employment with AgCo and retired in July 2011.
After retirement Roy enjoyed participating in period re-enactment. Living as the Mountain Men did at Rendezvous held in Jackson, Walnut Grove and Lake Benton. Every year Roy enjoyed traveling to the Big Island Rendezvous in Albert Lea to visit with friends and learn more about the buck skinners and their way of life. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, black powder shoots, photography, music and spending time at Little Birch Lake with his family and friends in Melrose. Roy was a track worker for the VFW Racing Association and watered the racetrack every Friday night for many years. He “wrenched” for Gabby Lusk’s “Mean 18” sprint car in Jackson and loved the sport of sprint car racing all of his life. Most days Roy could be found at Johnson Automotive hanging out with Bobby Johnson and the “guys.” Roy loved polka and blue grass music and was teaching himself to play the violin and the mandolin.
Roy is survived by his wife of 37 years,
Peggy Kramer, Jackson, MN; his daughter,
Holly (Dan) Elbert, Sioux Falls, SD; his brothers, James
Kramer and Micky (Carol) Kramer, both of Melrose, MN; his nephews, Sam (Janice)
Kramer, Freeport, MN; and Terry (Connie) Kramer, St. Augustine, FL; nieces, Sara Kelly, Cranberry Township, PA; Tammy (Glenn) Lane, Raeford, NC; Tanya Synder, NC; his puppies Mia and Bailey; and grandpuppies Zoe and Adaline.
He is preceded in death by his parents and many aunts and uncles.
Blessed be the memory of Roy A. Kramer.