1925
John
2016
John Ernest Cramer
July 28, 1925 — January 12, 2016
Obituary for John Ernest Cramer
John Ernest Cramer was born on July 28, 1925 to Bert and Jo Cramer in Kalispell, MT. He died at home on Flathead Lake with his family near on January 12th, 2016.
John was the youngest of three sons. As the son of a forester who worked for the Forest Service they moved a lot: Noxon, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Great Falls and Missoula.
John graduated from Missoula County High School in 1943. He played on the MCHS 1942 state champion football team. While in high school he worked summers for the Forest Service doing telephone line repair and manning fire lookouts.
John gathered the required three recommendations to become a ski trooper from the rangers he'd worked for in high school and joined the army during WWII. He trained at Camp Hale, Colorado and was deployed to Italy as a ski trooper in the 10th Mountain Division 87th Regiment 2nd Headquarters. John had the unique job of delivering messages between commanders, a duty that often put him in harm's way.
After being discharged John earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Montana in 1950. While there he met Shirley Metzner, They were married December 14th, 1946. John worked for the Forest Service and Anaconda Company in Bonner for a total of 35 years. They raised their five children in Missoula and later retired at Flathead Lake.
John will be remembered for a laugh you recognized in a crowded room as soon as you heard it; being a ski trooper in the 10th Mountain Division and an active member of the 10th Mountain Division Association; identifying and giving the taxonomic name for every tree in the forest; his prowess as an elk hunter in his early years which morphed into watching wildlife in his later years; how he could and would talk and joke with anyone; and how handsome he was. He shared his love of skiing with Shirley and their children. They cleared ski runs at Marshall Ski Area in the fall and skied all winter long for many years. He leaves a large hole in the hearts of those who love him.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Shirley, children, Suz (Dave) Rittenhouse, Polson, MT, Bill (Marge) Cramer, Lolo, MT, Carol (David) Knight, Big Arm, MT, Lexi (Kevin, deceased) Rausch Missoula, MT and David Cramer, Big Arm, MT, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, A.J. and Johanna Cramer, his brothers, Al and Bob Cramer.
The family wishes to sincerely thank hospice nurse Debbie Conrad for her thoughtful and loving care of John.
A memorial for John is scheduled for April 9, 2016 at 1 PM at the Lake Funeral Home, 101 6th Ave. E. in Polson, MT.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John's memory to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, PO Box 1644, Polson, MT.
Read John Cramer's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.
John was the youngest of three sons. As the son of a forester who worked for the Forest Service they moved a lot: Noxon, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Great Falls and Missoula.
John graduated from Missoula County High School in 1943. He played on the MCHS 1942 state champion football team. While in high school he worked summers for the Forest Service doing telephone line repair and manning fire lookouts.
John gathered the required three recommendations to become a ski trooper from the rangers he'd worked for in high school and joined the army during WWII. He trained at Camp Hale, Colorado and was deployed to Italy as a ski trooper in the 10th Mountain Division 87th Regiment 2nd Headquarters. John had the unique job of delivering messages between commanders, a duty that often put him in harm's way.
After being discharged John earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of Montana in 1950. While there he met Shirley Metzner, They were married December 14th, 1946. John worked for the Forest Service and Anaconda Company in Bonner for a total of 35 years. They raised their five children in Missoula and later retired at Flathead Lake.
John will be remembered for a laugh you recognized in a crowded room as soon as you heard it; being a ski trooper in the 10th Mountain Division and an active member of the 10th Mountain Division Association; identifying and giving the taxonomic name for every tree in the forest; his prowess as an elk hunter in his early years which morphed into watching wildlife in his later years; how he could and would talk and joke with anyone; and how handsome he was. He shared his love of skiing with Shirley and their children. They cleared ski runs at Marshall Ski Area in the fall and skied all winter long for many years. He leaves a large hole in the hearts of those who love him.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Shirley, children, Suz (Dave) Rittenhouse, Polson, MT, Bill (Marge) Cramer, Lolo, MT, Carol (David) Knight, Big Arm, MT, Lexi (Kevin, deceased) Rausch Missoula, MT and David Cramer, Big Arm, MT, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, A.J. and Johanna Cramer, his brothers, Al and Bob Cramer.
The family wishes to sincerely thank hospice nurse Debbie Conrad for her thoughtful and loving care of John.
A memorial for John is scheduled for April 9, 2016 at 1 PM at the Lake Funeral Home, 101 6th Ave. E. in Polson, MT.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John's memory to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, PO Box 1644, Polson, MT.
Read John Cramer's Obituary and Guestbook on www.groganfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Ernest Cramer, please visit our flower store.
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