In loving memory, we celebrate the life of our family’s patriarch, William “Bill” Wilbur Kremer. He peacefully passed away the early morning of September 21, 2018, holding the hands of his third daughter Kathy and youngest daughter Kari, in the town he called home most of his life.
As a husband, father, grandfather, veteran, small-business owner and active community member, Bill lived a rich life. He was the youngest child of five, born to William and Jessie Kremer December 2, 1922, in Lewiston. He had a love of music that started young; in junior and senior high school he played the clarinet and sang in the boys chorus, mixed chorus and boys octet.
He met his wife of 74 years, Virginia “Ginny” Mae Caw, in high school, and married her in Oakland, Calif., on April 19, 1944, before deployment to the South Pacific on the USS Yorktown CV-10 during WWII. Drafted in April 1943, he served as a Torpedoman’s Mate Aviation 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy, until he was honorably discharged in December 1945, earning the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (APCM) with five Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon (PLR) with Star, and the WWII Victory Medal.
After his term in the Navy, Bill and Ginny returned to Minnesota and settled in Chatfield, where they raised four daughters, Lynn, Jean, Kathryn and Karen “Kari.” He was the proud co-founder and owner of a plumbing and heating business, Kremer & Evans, and worked as a master electrician for 35 years until retirement.
While raising his family, Bill served his community, spending 20 years as a volunteer fire fighter with several years as fire chief, 70 years as an honor member with the American Legion, several years as Commander; and many years as a member of the United Methodist Church, serving as treasurer, Methodist Youth Fellowship leader, choir member, and Sunday school teacher.
Bill’s best years were spent traveling the United States with his wife and friends, enjoying summers at the family cabin on Lac Court Oreilles, and frequenting hobbies including fishing, hunting, golfing, bowling, woodworking, reading and singing.
His family cherishes many memories of him. His wife remembers their travels. His daughters remember listening to Twins games on the radio with him, his rendition of “I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,” him at the helm of many pontoon rides at the lake, and collecting bait (hellgrammites) from underneath the rocks of the shores of the Root River. His grandchildren remember hand squeezes so tight they hurt, endless hours of card games, airborne tosses in the lake, his competitive, playful spirit; and the legacy he leaves in us.
Bill is survived by his wife, Virginia Kremer; four daughters: Lynn (Bob) Hutton, Jean (Bruce) Johnson, Kathryn (Mark) Simpson, and Kari Kremer; nine grandchildren: Andrea, Erin, Shannon, Sarah, Mia, Mallory, Leza, Sophia and Kate; and 17 great-grandchildren. Together, we remember the deep love he had for us, and imagine him gazing on us from heaven, smiling and singing loudly, with clear vision and tireless feet.
Please join our family at his service at 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, at the Chatfield United Methodist Church, with Pastor Debra Jene Collum officiating. Visitation will be one hour before service at the church. Burial will be in the Chatfield Cemetery, with military honors by the American Legion of Chatfield.
Riley Funeral Home is assisting the Kremer family with arrangements. To share a memory with the family, please visit RileyFuneralHomes.com.