RALPH KRAEMER Ralph L. Kraemer passed away Feb. 4, 2016. He was born in 1929, in Scranton, Pa., and raised like a typical '"Pennsylvania Dutch, German kid." His father, Stan, owned Kraemer's Bar and Grill. He grew up loving comic books, drawing cartoon characters, learning bar room songs, jokes and limerick's. He was a gifted student. In high school, he earned a full tuition academic scholarship to Lehigh University, where he obtained his B.S. in civil engineering. He was a practical joker and fit in well at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house. He and a few fraternity brothers signed up for ROTC. They called their group the "Eight-Ball Platoon." Ralph and the "Eight-Balls" enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as first and second lieutenants, he designed and engineered bridges and runways overseas during the Korean War. After serving his country, he met and married his first wife, Edie, and they began their journey to the southwest. They settled in Las Vegas in 1951, built a loving home and started their family. They raised their three children together, Dale (J.J.) Kraemer, Ken (Miriam) Kraemer and Jennifer (Bob Margison). His legacy includes seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Ralph had a successful career as a civil engineer in Southern Nevada. Founding Kraemer Engineering Co., Inc. Prior to that, he worked for the City of Henderson, Tyson Engineering, Longley Construction, Western Engineers (president) and Collins Brothers Development. He designed the first master planned community in Las Vegas and many after, as well as Clark and Valley High Schools and hundreds of single-family residential communities. In 1950, he co-founded the Society of American Military Engineers. He was a founding member and served as the fifth president of the local Rotary Club Southwest, he was a co-founder and president of the Las Vegas Builder's Exchange, a charter member and officer of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association and was elected president of the Las Vegas Young Republicans. Ralph ran for state assembly and U.S. Congress in the 1960's as well. He co-founded the Las Vegas Chapter of the "Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) and the local ladies chorus called "Sweet Adelines." He was lead singer in the first Nevada barbershop quartet as well. In the 1980's, Ralph met the love of his life, Ruth. They married and traveled the world together, sharing many adventures. The Kraemer/Margison family would like to acknowledge and thank all of the incredible doctors, nurses, caregivers, occupational therapists and physical therapists that provided him with tender, loving care, laughter and respect in his last years. We would particularly like to acknowledge Dr. Nick Tselikis and his nurse, Maris at Nevada Heart and Vascular for their years of care, and Dr. Charles Bernick and Dr. Ryan Walsh and the amazing staff and volunteers at the Cleveland Clinic, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Much gratitude to nurse Jane from Creekside HHC, and the staff at Marvel Manor, who all took incredible care of Ralph this past year. A celebration of Ralph's life officiated by Rev. Judy Irving, will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., followed by a light-hearted gathering involving cocktails and laughter. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City at a later date.