Robert "Bob" Frederick Cramer

Robert Frederick Cramer, 100 (almost), died Tuesday, May 3, 2022, surrounded by family at his home.

Memorial service will be held at 11am, Saturday, May 14, 2022, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mapleton with visitation one hour prior. Full military honors will follow the service at church. After a reception, a private family graveside service will follow at Beauford Oak Hill Cemetery. Please share a memory of Bob with his family online at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Bob was born on July 9, 1922, to George W. and Mary E. (Will) Cramer at the family home in Beauford, rural Mapleton, MN. He received the first eight grades of education at country school, Beauford District #86. After graduating from Mapleton High School in 1941, he attended the Dunwoody Radio School in Minneapolis. In 1942, Bob entered the US Army Air Corp. Following training and completing instruction in the states, he was assigned to a nine-member crew as a radar operator on a B17 (nicknamed “Snafu Snatchers”) serving in the South Pacific, until being honorably discharged in February 1946.

He was united in marriage to Elaine Dickmeyer on July 11, 1947. The marriage was blessed with three children, Paul, Kristine, and Mark. Bob was employed as parts manager at Will Auto Company, Cutkowsky and Jones, and for 23 years at Mankato Service.

Over the years, Bob served on the Mapleton Community Chest Drive Committee, assisted in various activities of the Mapleton T&C Leisure Center, Mapleton Farm America, and Meals on Wheels. He spent many of his spare hours updating and renovating their “this ol’ house,” making it into a comfortable home, where they lived since 1951.

Bob enjoyed fishing and camping, spending time with family and friends, and traveling to Canada Fly In trips. He showed a great deal of enthusiasm playing cards and casino slots in later years and served as a verbal TV spectator coach to the Minnesota Twins and Timberwolves. He loved being with his family and was so proud of them.

Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 75 years, Elaine Cramer of Mapleton; children, Paul (Dollie) of Lake George, MN, Kristine (Jerry) Miller of Austin, MN, and Mark (Mary DeGrood) of North Mankato, MN; grandchildren, Joshua (Dana) Cramer of Estes Park, CO and Maren (Karl) Quickert of Bloomington, MN; step-grandchildren, Gary Knepper and Wendy Mckercher, both of North Platte, NE; great-grandchildren, Ezekeil, Jeremiah, and Miriam Cramer and Jemima, Eliza, Graeme, and Justus Quickert; step-great-grandchild, Maddie Gilfert; brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Donna Berger of Hutchinson, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Wendy Cramer; brothers, Donald and James (Kathy); and brother and sister-in-law, Bud and Elayne Dickmeyer.