Date of death: 1/23/2014
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1960
Fr. Lawrence A. Kramer, 79, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, while vacationing in Florida. Born in Fort Wayne, Fr. Larry was a Catholic Priest with the Diocese of Fort Wayne – South Bend for 52 years. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Our Lady of the Lake Seminary and Saint Meinrad Seminary. Father Kramer served at St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, and Our Lady of Good Hope Churches in Fort Wayne and as Chaplain at Bishop Luers High School. Fr Larry greatly enhanced Campus Ministry in the Diocese. Surviving are his brother, Roger Kramer of Indio, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence A. and Etheldrea Kramer. Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, with calling one hour prior. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades officiating. Calling also from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, with Reception Prayers at 3 p.m., Rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made to Bishop Luers High School or Masses. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.domccombandsons.com Published in Fort Wayne Newspapers on Jan. 30, 2014More from the News-Sentinel published on 01/25/2014:The Rev. Lawrence A. Kramer, a retired priest of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, died Thursday while on vacation in Florida, the diocese reported.Details about where Kramer died and the cause were unavailable late Friday afternoon.Funeral arrangements also were pending, but Kramer’s funeral likely will be in Fort Wayne, said Sean McBride, communications director for the diocese. McBride expects more information to be available Monday.The diocese reported the following information on its website, www.diocesefwsb.org:A Fort Wayne native, Kramer grew up attending Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish and Central Catholic High School. After completing his seminary studies, Kramer was ordained a priest May 28, 1960, at the cathedral.Kramer’s pastoral assignments included in 1964 as associate pastor at St. Peter Catholic Church in Fort Wayne and in 1969 as chaplain of Catholic students at Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne. He also helped start the Commuter Campus Ministry” program at Indiana Tech and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.Kramer was appointed pastor in 1970 at St. Peter, in 1971 at St. Andrew and in 1981 at Our Lady of Good Hope, all in Fort Wayne. He also served as pastor beginning in 1997 at St. Joseph in Bluffton and in 2003 at St. Paul of the Cross in Columbia City.Kramer was appointed chaplain at Bishop Luers High School in 1997 and as the school’s assistant chaplain in 2009. He also held a number of diocesan positions and offices.Since retiring, Kramer had lived at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, where he also had assisted the parish staff.”