Steven Grant Kramer

Kramer, Steven Grant 59, Twin Cities resident, died unexpectedly in his sleep on January 19, 2013 in Park City, Utah. He was born December 7, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois to Gerald and Margaret (Denzler) Kramer. At the age of 8, Steve moved with his family to Minneapolis where he found his way to the stage at Theatre in the Round and the Guthrie as a child actor. He attended West High School in Minneapolis. Steve will be remembered as the frontman for the 80's punk-polka band, "The Wallets", and following their disbandment, he, with his longtime friend, Bob Hest, started the ad agency Hest and Kramer, and spent his years writing music for commercials for Target, McDonald's and MTV, to name just a few. Steve, in collaboration with Kevin Kling, premiered their show, "Of Mirth and Mischief", at the Fitzgerald Theater in December of 2011, and recently were working on a musical entitled, "The Best Summer Ever", for the Children's Theatre Company. His musical scores can be found in the locally produced films, "Phasma Ex Machina" and "Looking Past You". In the Fall of 2012, Steve spent several weekends working as the sound effects man for Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion". Steve was also a gifted painter, cartoonist, skier and prankster and his family and friends will forever remember this creative genius and glorious human being. Steve will be lovingly cherished and sadly missed by his partner, Cathy Young, and her daughter, Bobbie Young; mother and step-father, Margaret and Davis Shryer; sisters, Phyllis (Chris) Dozier, Jennifer Kramer and Jean (Loren) Kramer-Johnson; nephews, Jonathan and Cutler Dozier; step-siblings, Molly (Tom) Boast, Alice (Greg) Southwick, Betsy (Tom) Boyle and Davis Shryer III; maternal aunt, Elizabeth Snyder, and her family; his special dogs, Bob and Riley. He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald, in 1963; grandparents, Richard and Mary Denzler and Charles and Susan Kramer; and his devoted dog, Nickie. A service celebrating Steve's life will be held Sunday, January 27, at 6 PM at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church, 4901 Chowen Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family.