Robert Lee Cramer

1929 - 2024

Robert Lee Cramer, 95, passed away peacefully at his home in Menomonie, WI on December 26, surrounded by the love of his family.

Bob was born on June 14, 1929, to LaVerne and Nora (Hotter) Cramer in Arkansaw, WI. He lived in Grand Rapids, MN, and spent childhood summers working on the Cramer and Millar family farms in Menomonie. Bob graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1947. While there he developed a love of sports, especially ice hockey, later sharing his passion as a coach for the Dunn County Youth Hockey Association.

Returning to Menomonie he met and married his beloved wife, Bonnie (Hayden) on October 29, 1951, in Stillwater, MN. Bob enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. After his service, he was employed by the State of Wisconsin, Department of Transportation for 32 years as a surveyor, survey crew chief, right-of-way agent and real estate appraiser.

Additional community involvement included serving two terms as governor with Moose Lodge #1584, being instrumental in the acquisition of the Moose Lodge property and building of the current lodge. Bob was also involved with Boy Scouts and the UW-Stout Blue Devil Basketball Boosters.

Bob was passionate about the game of golf and was proud of achieving two holes-in-one! He enjoyed playing courses in the Menomonie area, throughout the country, and in Europe. In addition to golf, Bob also enjoyed fishing and hunting, hockey, UW-Stout basketball, Green Bay Packer football, travel, crossword puzzles, cribbage, euchre and woodworking. He was a man of many talents and interests. Bob was a generous, gregarious, and witty individual who loved meeting new people and spending time with his family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Bonnie; his parents; his sister, Gloria (Faucher); and brother, David. He is survived by his daughters, Roberta (David) Schmidt, Corinne (Gordon) Grant, Peggy (Donald) Qually, and son, Steven (Emily) Goodenough; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his special companion, Marcella Gibson, and her daughters, Donna and Cindy.

The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Health System Cancer Center in Menomonie and Adoray Home Health & Hospice for their compassionate care and support.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rhiel Funeral Home in Menomonie and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Funeral service will be Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church in Downsville, with a luncheon to follow. Internment will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Menomonie, in the spring with an Honor Guard ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to UW-Stout Athletics, Menomonie Youth Hockey Association, or the Dunn County Humane Society.