Loved the great outdoors

James Austin Cramer, 62, of Blair, died Wednesday night, Nov. 23, 2011, at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island, after a long battle with cancer. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will take place at a later date in Blair.

James Austin Cramer was born Dec. 25, 1948, in North Platte to Austin and Arlene Cramer. He grew up in Red Cloud, where he earned the Eagle Scout Award. He graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1967 and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University. In 1969, he joined the United States Navy and served as a boiler technician on nuclear destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1974. He remained a lifelong member of the American Legion.

He moved to Blair in 1982 and worked as a nuclear operator at the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant.

He loved the outdoors and his happiest days were on the water with a fishing pole in hand. He spent many youthful weekends at Harlan County Reservoir and then many more mature summers fishing in Canada. The other love of his life was his many dogs.

He is survived by his sister, Ann Cramer, of Chappell; and a host of dear friends, including Bill and Ginny Kermoade, Brian and Tammy Kramer, and Jim and Kay Woodard all of Blair, Ward Cheney of Sapulpa, Okla., and Bob Walters of Red Cloud; also among his friends are the staff and residents at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his paternal grandparents, Harry and Edna Cramer.

Memorials are suggested to Ducks Unlimited, Memorial Contributions, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120.

Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island was in charge of arrangements.