John Kramer

But while most people weren't familiar with his father's experiences growing up, John Kramer noted, almost everyone is familiar with his handiwork - the DeKalb seed corn sign, which he designed in the mid-1930s as an employee in the DeKalb Agricultural Association sales department.

...
"He was universally known as being one of the kindest, most gentle, generous people," John Kramer said Friday."I don't think he ever lost his temper.

"His gentleness and his kindness are a result of his tough, tough childhood.He never wanted anybody to be hurt or treated badly."

Kramer, who died in Glendale Friday morning at the age of 90, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1911.His father died in 1919 during the influenza epidemic.Kramer's mother died the following year, and he found himself in the Soldiers and Orphans Home, a Davenport, Iowa, orphanage.

He lived there until 1924, when he went to live with a foster farm family in Jesup, Iowa.He graduated from high school there and then attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, until he was offered a job with DeKalb in DeKalb, Ill.

That's where he was given the job of designing a new logo and came up with the winged corncob, which still marks row after row of DeKalb seed corn and is seen by thousands of motorists every day.

After World War II, during which he served in the Army, Kramer moved to Milwaukee in 1946 for a job, his son said.

In 1953, he founded Kramer Industrial Sales in Whitefish Bay.The sales company specialized in marketing conveyor equipment and other machinery to paper, food and manufacturing companies.

Kramer lived on the North Shore from then on, in Glendale, Fox Point, Milwaukee and then Shorewood.Ill health forced him to move to the Waters of Seven Oaks nursing home in Glendale, where he died.

He retired from Kramer Industrial in the mid-1980s and sold the company, which was then moved to Grafton.

Even though he was in his 70s when he retired, Kramer maintained an active lifestyle by skiing, hunting and fishing, his son said.

"He was an avid sportsman and accomplished skier, skiing into his 80s.He had a season pass at Winter Park, Colo., until 1997," John Kramer said.

He also enjoyed trout fishing and hunting grouse and ducks, he said.

He was active in the community.He was a charter member of North Shore Congregational Church and served on various church committees over the years.

He also served on the board of the North Shore YMCA and was a scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 398 at North Shore Congregational Church.

"Actually, I think he knew how to do everything," his son said.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Inez (Kiviluoma) Kramer.That marriage ended in divorce.

"We all just love to sing," said John Kramer, a charter member along with his wife, Susy.