Richard Kramer

DULUTH, Minn. - The world lost a good man when Richard L. "Byrd" Kramer passed away Feb. 20 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. He was kind, gentle, honest, generous, funny and well loved by everyone who knew him.
He was born Richard L. Kramer in Bradford, Pa., and enrolled in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school in 1963. He earned his nickname "Byrd" in Crete following an incident that involved a number of his Air Force buddies, a bottle of ouzo and an olive tree growing in the middle of an outdoor cafe. The name stuck for the remainder of his life. When he returned to the States, Byrd attended UMD in Duluth, where he and his best friend, Chas, met and married the sisters who lived in the apartment across the street. Byrd and his wife, Ruth, were married for 53 years.
In 1970, Byrd moved to Eugene, Ore., where he became an expert wallpaper hanger. He loved his work and hung wallpaper for 44 years. The Kramers moved to Marquette, Mich., in 1978, then in 1989 to portage entry near Chassell, Mich., where he lived for the remainder of his life.
Byrd was an avid fisherman and was an excellent card player. Few people could beat him in cribbage. After he retired in 2014, he and Ruth enjoyed traveling, cruising, appreciating the view of the lake from their deck, and most of all visiting family in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, California and Minnesota.
Byrd courageously battled a number of serious medical conditions later in life, including lung cancer, which eventually took his life. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; sisters Suzanne Yohe and Cathy Pearce of Bradford; 36 nieces and nephews; and many, many great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Byrd will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. Rest in peace, Byrdman.