Oct.
20, 1921 - Feb. 12, 2010SOUTH BEND - Herbert Lyle Cramer Jr., 88, of South Bend, died at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2010, following a lengthy illness. Mr. Cramer was born October 20, 1921, in Joliet, IL, to the late Mary Elizabeth (Brown) and Herbert Lyle Cramer and had lived in South Bend since 1932, coming from Joliet. On August 16, 1982, in South Bend, he married Donnabelle (Kesler) Goodspeed, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Sue Emdin (Ben) of Grand Rapids, MI, and Mary Davis of Houston, TX; two sons, Michael Cramer (Sally) of Houston and Philip Cramer (Cheryl) of Belle Air, MD; 10 grandchildren, David, Sara, James and Jai Emdin, Jennifer, Stephanie and Ben Cramer, Kenady, Helena and Robert Davis, Brittany and Derek Cramer; three great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Peter and Will Cannon; three stepchildren, George, Sue and Linda; five step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Jane Lippincott. Mr. Cramer was a 1939 graduate of Culver Military Academy, the summer naval school at Culver, served on the Culver Academy Legion Board, and was president of the Culver Military Academy Alumni Association of Northern Indiana. He attended Indiana University and affiliated with Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. During World War II he entered the U S Army as a second lieutenant in the infantry, transferred to the Air Force, and was discharged in 1944. He began his career in the life insurance business in Elkhart, IN, in 1945 with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and received his CLU in 1959. Herb was a past president of the Elkhart County Indiana Life Underwriters Association, North Central Indiana CLU Chapter, South Bend Life Underwriters Association, and was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He served on the board of directors and was a member of the South Bend, Elkhart and Roseland Rotary Clubs and was a member of the board managers of the South Bend YMCA where he served as treasurer and secretary as well as a past president of the board of managers of YMCA Camp Eberhart. He was an active volunteer with several local hospital fund drives, the South Bend Symphony, the St. Joseph County Scholarship Foundation and served as a division and section chairman for several United Way campaigns. He was also a board member of the Diamond Lake Association and a member of the Diamond Lake Yacht Club. Herb was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend and served as president of the Board of Trustees and served on the Board of Deacons. A memorial celebration of Herb's life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 18th, in First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax Ave., with Rev. Robert Agnew officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the parlor of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA of Michiana, 1201 Northside Blvd., South Bend, IN 46615; or First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46601. Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., is assisting the family with arrangements. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.