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Richard J. Kraemer Sr.

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Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/25/2023 - 08:03

Richard John Kraemer Sr. of Waterloo and Des Moines passed away at his home in Des Moines on Oct. 1 , 2023.

Dick began his life on Dec. 18, 1937, in Hawkeye with his father, Edgar, his mother, Laura, and three siblings, William, Elizabeth and Paul. When he was 12, Dick and his family moved to Guttenberg and he found an exciting life revolving around fishing, hunting with his father, and finding a beat-up old rowboat he could call his own. His love of boats remained with him forever - canoes, fishing boats or sailboats, he loved them all. He even learned celestial navigation so he could one day set sail on the ocean, navigate by the stars and not be lost. Which, of course, he did.

Following high school Dick proudly served five years in the United States Air Force, which in addition to serving his country, Dick found it to be the source of many wonderful tales to tell for the rest of his life. After serving in the Air Force he moved to Ames to attend Iowa State University and found employment with Atomic Energy Commission in their Ames Lab as their photographer.

Following graduation in 1968, he was recruited by Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo to teach photography. There he remained until his retirement in 1996, involved in many photographic organizations and earning a Photographic Craftsman Degree.

All through his life Dick found joy in learning, finding new skills and taking on a challenge. Mostly self-taught, he tackled every new interest or project with abundant enthusiasm. He loved almost any outdoor activity, canoeing, fishing, backpacking, hiking, birding and his favorite, sailing. His other interests included a woodworking business, model railroading and in his retirement, nature photography.

He is survived by people he loved with his whole heart, his wife Barbara; his sister, Elizabeth Sump; his sons, Rick (Becky) and Jeff; three grandchildren John, Daniel (Maria) and Elizabeth (Edwin) Nunez and one great-grandson, Owen Kraemer. And not to be forgotten his beloved Norwegian Forest Cat, Wally, his best furry friend.

Dick had a very full, interesting life for which he was always grateful.

Dick had two homes and is having two services, on Oct. 20, at Plymouth Church, Des Moines and Nov. 1, at 2 p.m., at Central Christian Church, Waterloo.

If you are thinking of a donation he was very fond of Wounded Warriors, any

no kill animal shelter or a wildlife organization of your choice.

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