Calvin Kraemer

Calvin E. “Cal” Kraemer, 88, of Chippewa Falls, town of Eagle Point, passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family and while under the care of St. Joseph’s Hospice.

He was born December 12, 1929, in Cascade, Wisconsin, to Agnes (Haag) and Elwyn Kraemer. He grew up in Cascade and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1947.

Cal served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954, during the Korean Conflict. He married Donna Wessel on June 22, 1957, in Greenbush, Wis.

Cal continued his education at UW-River Falls, and at UW-Madison, where he earned both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Dairy Science. For six years, he worked as the 4H Agent for Green County. He moved to Chippewa Falls in 1968, where he worked as the Agricultural Agent for Chippewa County until his retirement in 1990.

He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Chippewa Falls; a member of the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council; the American Legion Post #77; the Chippewa Falls VFW Post #1038; member of Alpha Gamma Rho, an agricultural fraternity at the UW-Madison; and a lifetime member of the Chippewa Falls Kiwanis Club.

Cal was an outdoorsman; he loved to hike, bike, canoe, snowshoe and fish. He and his family enjoyed spending time at their cabin on the Holcombe Flowage. He liked to make firewood for Camp Kenwood or for anyone who needed it. As a volunteer, he spent time maintaining a section of the Ice Age Trail and delivering Meals on Wheels. Cal and Donna also traveled extensively, through the Elder Hostel program and for Habitat for Humanity.

Survivors include his wife, Donna, of Chippewa Falls; two daughters, Linda (David) King of Long Beach, Washington, Laura (Daniel Dobson) Kraemer of Lino Lakes, Minn.; a son, David (Mary Duerson) Kraemer of Waukesha, Wis.; three sisters, Cynthia Devine of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Rachel Steinke of Plymouth, Wis., Judy Thiel of Seattle, Wash.; a brother, Norbert (Janice) Kraemer of Plymouth, Wis.; two grandsons, Colin Kraemer of Rochester, Minn., and Michael (Quenisha Soukup) Kraemer of Iowa City, Iowa; one great-granddaughter, Harlow Kraemer; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers-in-law, Tom Devine and Arno Steinke.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, April 23 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Terri Koca officiating. Military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will take place immediately following the service at the church.

Interment will be at a later date in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wis.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church and one hour prior to the service Monday, also at the church.

Memorials may be designated to Trinity United Methodist Church, 201 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls; or to the Ice Age Trail, In memory of Calvin Kraemer, c/o Ice Age Trail Alliance, PO Box 128, 2110 Main St., Cross Plains, WI 53528.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls is serving the family. Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.