Thomas Stanley Cramer

Thomas Stanley Cramer, 83, of Hackettstown, NJ, entered his eternal home peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, on February 8, 2026. Born on January 4, 1943, in East Stroudsburg, PA, he was the son of the late Stewart and Jean (Miller) Cramer of Buttzville, NJ.

Tom was raised on a farm where his love for animals began. He attended Belvidere High School, the graduating class of 1960. Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962. He proudly served his country stationed on Midway Island. There, he maintained emergency vehicles.

Tom was a mechanical genius alongside his father and brothers, building Cramer Plating Inc. from the ground up. He maintained complex systems that kept the family business running from inception through the mid-1990s, when he pursued other opportunities. Whether he was working on the Air Force base, in the family "shop" business, or at the SSC Sport Club, Tom approached every challenge with a wrench in his hand and a solution in his mind. There was no engine he couldn't tune or machine he couldn't master; his family fondly refers to his unique legacy of mechanical problem-solving as "Cramering It."

Outside of his mechanical pursuits, Tom's creative side had no limits. He belonged to many different social groups; his lifetime friendships were the foundation that connected him with many different people.

Tom enjoyed camping adventures through the years with his PWP family. He enjoyed all the outings with his senior group, where he was affectionately known as "The Cookie Man." He was an adventurous baker creating unique desserts. In addition, Tom was a gifted writer, sharing his imagination with the community in the local paper under the pen name "Froggy." Beyond his own writing, he flourished while stepping up to assist his children with many school projects and events throughout their elementary years. Whether it was PTA events or science fair projects, Tom always found the most imaginative ways to leave his creative imprint.

Later in life, Tom found joy through simple adventures. Tom loved spontaneous weekend drives and the peace of camping trips under the stars. One of his greatest adventures was a road trip to Iowa to visit the "Field of Dreams", where he appreciated the beauty of life.

Tom's greatest accomplishment was the large and loving family he leaves behind. He was predeceased by Cecile R. Olesnanik, the mother of his six children, and by his parents, Stewart and Jean Cramer.

He is survived by the one who made him smile every day, his companion Fran Ortu Veit; his children: Thomas (Rosalind), Gwen Flynn (Francis), Gail Meuser, Ginette Gulick (Martin), Anthony (Tammy), and Geri Cramer (Sharon).As a proud grandfather, "Pop Tom" spent his days following the lives of his 12 grandchildren on social media: Ryan, Tommy, Carissa, Jason, Kyle, Cody, Britney, Taylor, Colbe, Courtney, Patrick, and Luke. He was the great-grandfather of 12: Braden, Bryce, Hudson, Colin, Kendall, Caden, Madalyn, Matthew, Ryan, Brett, Marcelino, and Otto, as well as the joyful anticipation of "Baby G" coming this spring. He is also survived by his brothers: David and Steven of White Township, and Charles of Phillipsburg.

There will be calling hours on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ. Followed by a funeral service with military honors at 1:00 PM.

A private interment will be at the Northampton Memorial Shrine, Palmer, PA, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Team Foster, a nonprofit dedicated to pairing injured and disabled Veterans with highly trained service dogs at no cost to the Veteran.

Online:

www.TeamFoster.org

Mail: Team Foster, PO Box 582, Conshohocken, PA 19428

Thank you for helping us honor Tom's legacy of service and his heart for fellow Veterans.