Ron Kramer, 82, of Pella died at Pella Comfort House Jan. 14, 2021. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorial contributions are suggested for Mobility Worldwide (PET).
Ronald Carl Kramer was born Feb 7, 1938, at Ackley. He was the second of five children born to Carl Harry and Gertrude (Van Der Lugt) Kramer. In 1945, they moved from Ackley to Sully where Ron attended Sully Christian School. They then moved to Pella in 1954, and he graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1956. Ron met Bertha June Van Wyk when she brought her car to be serviced at Custom Automotive in Pella. They were united in marriage Jan. 4, 1963, at the Sully Christian Reformed Church parsonage. To this union one son, Rustin Jay, was born in November 1963.
Ron served in the National Guard and trained in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. His first venture into self-employment was Ron’s Tune Up working on automobiles in 1963. In the mid-60s, Ron started selling motorcycles out of his home shop and a decision had to be made between cars and motorcycles. The motorcycles are what Ron put his heart into for some 35-plus years. In 1973, he built his new cycle shop just down the road from their house. Ron was ahead of the times, building custom Yamaha 650s in the 70s and 80s. Along with the busy motorcycle industry, Ron became a hobby pilot, and this turned into another business, Rotor and Wing Aviation. His love for aviation grew and over the years he owned at least nine different airplanes. He fully restored his first aircraft and won prestigious awards at the famed Oshkosh Air Show. His fascination with rotor aircraft was fulfilled when he purchased his first of five helicopters. Ron flew his helicopters several years for Iowa Power Company, doing flying inspections of large high power lines and substations across the state of Iowa. After closing his motorcycle shop in the mid-1990s, Ron worked on an as-needed-basis for Classic Aviation in Pella. Ron was known by many as a mechanical genius. He was capable of fabricating, machining, and repairing almost anything to the highest of standards. This was evident with the building of two beautiful experimental kit aircraft that Ron flew extensively.
Ron also loved having his three grandchildren live close by. They have great memories of Grandpa giving them minibike rides, making custom connections for wagons to turn the tricycle into a train, and landing the helicopter in the backyard to give them rides.
After suffering a fall, June passed away July 1, 2019, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House at the age of 88 years. Ron also began a decline in his cognitive and mental capabilities and became a resident of Homestead of Oskaloosa in February 2019.
Ron is survived by his son, Rusty (Rhinda) Kramer of Pella and their three children, Tyler Jay of Pella, Tanner David of Monroe, and Megan Noelle of Pella. Ron leaves his siblings, Marian (Dan) Ten Pas of Oostburg, WI, Martin (Lola) Kramer and Gerald (Carolyn) Kramer, all of Pella; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Arvin and Anna Mae Van Wyk, Joyce and Carl De Goey, Darlene and Harris Vos, all of Newton, Helen and Verlan Brand of Grinnell, Carolyn Vande Voort, Judy and Ed Van Kooten, all of Sully, and Eldred Van Gorp of Newton.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife June, his parents, his sister Ruth and her husband Pete Rus.
