Richard Kraemer, Sr.

Richard John Kraemer, Sr. of Waterloo and Des Moines, Iowa passed away

at his home in Des Moines on October 1 st , 2023. Dick began his life on

December 18, 1937 in Hawkeye, Iowa with his father Edgar, his mother

Laura and three siblings, William, Elizabeth and Paul.

When he was twelve Dick and his family moved to Guttenberg, Iowa and

he found an exciting life revolving around fishing, hunting with his

father and finding a beat-up old rowboat he could call his own. His

love of boats remained with him forever, canoes, fishing boats or

sailboats, he loved them all. He even learned celestial navigation so

he could one day set sail on the ocean, navigate by the stars and not

be lost. Which, of course, he did.

Following high school Dick proudly served five years in the United

State Air Force which in addition to serving his country Dick found it

to be the source of many wonderful tales to tell for the rest of his

life.

After serving in the Air Force he moved to Ames, Iowa to attend Iowa

State University and found employment with Atomic Energy Commission in

their Ames Lab as their photographer.

Following graduation in 1968 he was recruited by Hawkeye Community

College in Waterloo to teach photography. There he remained until his

retirement in 1996. Involved in many photographic organizations and

earning a Photographic Craftsman Degree.

All through his life Dick found joy in learning, finding new skills

and taking on a challenge. Mostly self-taught he tackled every new

interest or project with abundant enthusiasm. He loved almost any

outdoor activity, canoeing, fishing, back packing, hiking, birding and

his favorite sailing. His other interests included a woodworking

business, model railroading and in his retirement, nature photography.

He is survived by people he loved with his whole heart, his wife

Barbara, his sister Elizabeth Sump, his sons Rick (Becky) and Jeff,

his three grandchildren John, Daniel (Maria) and Eliabeth (Edwin)

Nunez and one great grandson, Owen Kraemer. And not to be forgotten

his beloved Norwegian Forest Cat, Wally, his best furry friend.

Dick had a very full, interesting life for which he was always

grateful. Dick had two homes and is having two services. On October

20 th , 11:00AM at Plymouth Church, Des Moines and November 1 st , 2:00PM at

Central Christian Church, 3175 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa. If you

are thinking of a donation he was very fond of Wounded Warriors, any

no kill animal shelter or a wildlife organization of your choice.