Thomas E. Cramer, Crystal Lake, IL  (1954 - 2012)

November 28, 1954 - June 29, 2012
Thomas E. Cramer, age 57, passed away Friday, June 29, 2012, at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL; surrounded by his family and praying The Lord’s Prayer with him. He was born Nov. 28, 1954, in Robbinsdale, MN, to John and Shirley (Jensen) Cramer.
Tom’s career of 33 years was in the colorants industry–helping to color the world of plastics. He began in manufacturing, worked his way into the lab and became a lab manager. His determination progressed him into sales and then sales management. Tom’s drive for success (personally and for the company) soon took him into the position of VP of Sales and then VP of Manufacturing for a small color house. For the past four and one-half years, Tom has worked for a large custom color house–Penn Color–where he was the MidWest Business manager and developed enough sales in two years to manage the building of a new plant for Penn Color in Milton, WI. He has been successfully running the plant for just over a year as General Manager. He brought great value with his combined technical expertise and beyond compare salesmanship. There are very few in his category of excellence.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Cabrina Marie Cramer of Crystal Lake, IL; his mother, Shirley (David) Battig of Buffalo, MN; two sons, Jeremy Cramer of McHenry, IL, and Chad Cramer of Hugo, MN; sister, Deborah (James) Holcomb of Buffalo, MN; brother, Kelly (Sue Stafford) Cramer of Anoka, MN; brother, Kevin Cramer of Crystal, MN; three grandchildren: Jordan Cramer, Berkley and Mackenley Cramer, all at home; step daughter, Nicole (Austin Brantley) Benfield of Crystal Lake, IL; step-son, Tyler Benfield of Crystal Lake, IL; mother-in-law, Johanna Rountree of Bremen, GA; brother-in-law, Paul (Tina) Mitchell of Bremen, GA; brother-in-law, Darren (Teresa) Mitchell of Douglasville, GA; one sister-in-law, Gabrielle (Alan) Johnson of Ball Ground, GA; and many nieces, nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by his father, John Edward Cramer
We have all been truly blessed by knowing Tom in so many ways. He has touched all of our lives with graciousness, humor, kindness, intelligence, professionalism, sharp wit and sense of purpose. A man who loved nature and children, full of love for life, easy to laugh, deeply in love in his marriage and breathing in the love of all his family members – personal and church. A complex man, but very simple needs in many ways. This wonderful man has made a huge impact on so many lives and I, his wife, will never be the same. He was the epitome of a man’s man and a gentleman.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at ALL FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1618 E. Racine St., Janesville. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service at THE FUNERAL HOME. The service will be simulcast on the funeral home website at www.866allfaiths.com for those unable to attend.
All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services
Janesville (608)754-8700
www.866allfaiths.com