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Jerry Kramer
Jerold W. “Jerry” Kramer passed away
Feb. 15, 2009, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital with
family by his side.
A mass of Christian burial is being held
at Mary’s Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. A
memorial is planned following the service at 2:30 p.m. at the
Hood River Elks Lodge.
Jerry was born July 27, 1939, at the
home of his parents, Elmer and Dorothy (Stebbins) Kramer, out on
Tucker Road. He was a lifelong resident of Hood River. While he
traveled across the country and to Europe, he always felt that
this valley was the most beautiful.
He graduated from Hood River High School
in 1957 and went on to Oregon State. Jerry left college to take
over his father’s service station when his father’s health
failed. He later moved the station to Fourth and Oak St. He then
proceeded to expand into a tire dealership and beyond.
Jerry was in continuous business from
1959 until a few weeks ago. In his later years, he started his
gun shop, which became his passion. He didn’t want to retire
because he was having too much fun and didn’t consider it to be
work.
In 1960 he and Mary Bartmess were
married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hood River.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 48
years, three children and was blessed with three grandchildren
with a fourth on the way. His oldest is Curt Kramer; next is a
daughter, Kathy, married to Marty Masiker with a son, Alex; and
his youngest child, Lisa, is married to Eric Boe with sons Ryan
and Brendan.
He also leaves behind a brother, Leon
Kramer, and sister-in-law, Joanne; and a sister, Judy Collins;
along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and in-laws.
Over the years, Jerry was active in
numerous professional organizations. He was a 30-year member of
Rotary and past president and Paul Harris Fellow recipient, Life
Member of the NRA, a 48-year member of the Elks, a member of the
Order of the Antelope, and a 10 -year volunteer firefighter.
He served on the Hood River City
Council, served in State Office for the Jaycees, was a member of
Ducks Unlimited, and member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Jerry was also an avid Portland Trail
Blazer fan and arranged for an exhibition game to be played in
Hood River back in the franchise’s early days.
Jerry enjoyed good friends, bird
hunting, coin collecting, Lugers, and telling a good story. But
most important was having his family close by.
The family has requested that donations
in Jerry’s name be made to the Mid-Columbia Center for Living
for the Cottage Drop-In Center or Ducks Unlimited, in care of
Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR
97031; 386-1000;
www.andersonstributecenter.com.
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