Bill Kraemer, age 98, of Paducah, KY passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Bill was born on September 8, 1922 in Louisville, KY. He attended grade school, junior high and high School in Louisville. When he graduated from Manual Training High School in June of 1940 he worked at Belknap Hardware Office for $0.25 an hour. After a year, he found another job at Reliance Varnish at $0.40 per hour. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 he volunteered and joined the Army Air Force on August 17, 1942. In addition to state side service, he served in the Pacific Theatre (Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Phillippines, Okinawa and Japan). He was honorably discharged on December 30, 1945.
After the war, Bill enrolled in the University of Louisville Speed Scientific School and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering. In Louisville, Bill met Helen Ruth Smith, a widow with a six year old son. They were married on September 6, 1947. After Bill graduated in 1950 they moved to Macon, GA where they lived for almost three years, then moved to Alton, IL for two years before settling in Paducah in 1955. Bill worked at Union Carbide until he retired in January of 1984.
In January of 1956, Bill accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized at Parkview Chapel. In the summer of 1956, Bill and his family moved their membership to Baptist Tabernacle, where they served until it closed in 1998. Bill and his wife, Ruth, then united with Trinity Baptist Church. In 2005, health considerations necessitated that they move to Gaither Suites. After his wife went to be with her Lord in 2013, Bill once again became as active member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Bill is survived by his stepson, Arnold Wayne Smith of Las Vegas, NV and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Ruth Kraemer; his parents, William Kraemer and Edna Dahl Kraemer; and one sister, Helen Elise Shircliff.
Private services will be held with entombment at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
During this difficult time, you may show your support by joining the “Hugs from Home” program, where your message will be attached to a balloon in the chapel to remind the family of your love and support. Please go to www.milnerandorr.com to send a hug.
You can send a message to the family and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.