Obituary of W.D. Cramer

W.D. "Web" Cramer, 89 of Iowa City died Friday, September 27, 2013, at Bickford Cottage in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Wilbur D. Cramer was born December 9, 1923, in rural Adair County, Iowa the son of Clarence and Anna (Vorrath) Cramer. His family farmed in the Fontanelle area where he graduated from high school in 1942. He was united in marriage to Shirley Anderson on August 10, 1944, in Greenfield, IA and they enjoyed 51 years of marriage until her death in August 1995. He began his career with the railroad in the summer of 1949, joining Union Pacific Railroad. In 1950 he started working for the Rock Island Railroad and he was with them until 1981, at which time he joined the Crandic Line until retiring in 1984. The couple and their family lived in Keota and Burlington prior to moving to Iowa City in 1964. Web enjoyed his retirement career on the mowing crew at Finkbine Golf Course and spent much of his free time playing golf. Web loved life, he loved people, and along the way he enjoyed many things. He wintered in Arizona so he could golf year round and enjoyed traveling throughout his life. Web was a 52-year member of the Elks Club serving on the board of directors and always enjoying the links and cocktail time at the 19th hole. Like many of his era, he loved to dance to the big band music of the day. He was united in marriage to Janet Falls White on August 29, 1998. Web was a sports enthusiast and an avid Hawkeye fan his entire life. Web never met a stranger, was always glad to share a story, and a truer friend would be hard to find. His family and friends were his first priority. His family includes his wife, Janet; children Deborah and Tom Gill of Coralville; Jennifer and Mike Carlson of Bettendorf; and Alan and Jean Cramer of Omaha; 7 grandchildren, Anne Gill (Mike Ephraim), Maggie Gill, Michael Cramer, Andrew Cramer, Katrina Carlson Young (Brian), Patrick Carlson, and Lesley Carlson DuBurg (Dustin); 7 great-grandchildren, Madeline, Carly, Phoebe, and Ramona Ephraim, Megan Boyd, Zachary Boyd, and Carter DuBurg; Janet's family, Becky White (Linda) of Iowa City; Kathy White of Coralville; Jeff White of Iowa City; J.D. White (Darla) of Lewisville, TX; six grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law, Lisa Jo White of Woodstock, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his parents, brothers Vernon and Ivan Cramer; grandson, Stephen Carlson; stepson, John White. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff at Bickford Cottage for the care and compassion they have shown Web over the past two years. Thank you!