Ewing Funeral Home logo
Photo of Leonard J. Cramer

Leonard J. Cramer

5/25/1916 - 10/15/2009


Obituary


Leonard J. Cramer, 93, of Clarion passed away Thursday, October 15, 2009 at Careage of Clarion in Clarion. Funeral services for Leonard Cramer will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Clarion with Pastor Don Morrison officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.  Military graveside services are under the direction of the Clarion American Legion and VFW. Visitation for Leonard Cramer will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Ewing Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion and continue one hour prior to services at the church. Leonard Jelske Cramer was born May 25, 1916 on a farm near Riceville, Iowa.  His parents were Herman and Sophia (Schmidt) Cramer.  He attended country school and graduated from Clarion High School in 1934.  He moved to the Spencer, Iowa area and after multiple jobs, began working for Spencer Machine Works. At the outbreak of WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves as 2nd Class Machinist Mate and later received training as an optical specialist and was stationed in various places including Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Alaska and Okinawa. At the end of the War, Leonard returned to Clarion and soon began working for IPS (Iowa Public Service) and ran the power generating plant for the city of Clarion.  After several years of this, he started his own business, Clarion Manufacturing Company which he continued to run until the early 1960’s when he started working for Bourns in Ames, Iowa as an experimental machinist.  In the late 1970’s he returned to Clarion and resumed operating the Clarion Manufacturing Company.  He continued to enjoy his shop and helping people through the rest of his life. Shortly before joining the Navy, he married Lucile Mae Armstrong of Clarion on March 14, 1942.  On December 15, 1942 a son, David, was born.  Leonard and Lucile enjoyed nearly forty years of marriage before Lucile died in January 1982. On July 20, 1984 Leonard married Mavis Kent from Guttenberg, Iowa.  They were married for approximately twenty years. Leonard was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarion.  He also was active in the Boy Scouts both locally and council-wide earning a Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his many years of service. Leonard was active in the Blacksmith and Welders Association both locally and statewide.  He also was very proud of the Heartland Museum in Clarion and supported it strongly with time and donations. Leonard is survived by his son David, his daughter-in-law Marj, granddaughter Karen (Bryan) Van Winkle, grandson James (Brigitte) Cramer and two great-granddaughters:  Eva (2 years old) and Anna (2 weeks old) Van Winkle. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles, his sister Delores and his two wives.