Rev. Dr. Howard William Kramer

June 3, 1924 – February 4, 2025

Howard William Kramer was born in Uniontown (formerly Paitzdorf) Perry County, Missouri on June 3, 1924. His father, William A Kramer, was a descendant of the 800 Saxon immigrants who came to Perry County Missouri in 1838-9 and who played a key role in the founding of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). His mother was Renata Welp, also of Perry County, MO.

Kramer attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Academy and College, Concordia, Missouri; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (BA, MDiv, STM); the University of Louisville, KY (MA); and the University of Michigan (PhD). He served parishes in Carthage, MO (Faith Lutheran); Louisville, KY (Pilgrim Lutheran); and St. Louis (St Paul Lutheran, Des Peres). In 1966 he joined the faculty of Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan to teach English, New Testament and Humanities. In 1977 he became Academic Dean of the college and also served as interim president of the college for a seven-month period. In 1984 he accepted the position as President of Concordia Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1990. After retirement, he and his wife, Valerie, lived in Albuquerque and Las Cruces, NM; Columbia, MO; and Norman, OK until she passed away in 2020. He returned to Columbia, MO. In his retirement he assisted several congregations during pastoral vacancies.

As a seminary student Kramer was an announcer, newscaster, program writer and assistant production manager at Radio Station KFUO, St. Louis. He also served as occasional announcer for the Lutheran Hour when it was broadcast live from the KFUO studios to the over 900 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System.

During his professional life Kramer was a member of the Board of Directors of the LCMS Central District; district secretary and member of the Board of Directors of the LCMS Michigan District. On the national level he served as a member of the LCMS Leadership Training Committee. In 1989 he was the “designated theologian” of the Lutheran Church-Canada at the International Lutheran Conference in Seoul, Korea. He led two tours to the Luther sites in Germany. He was the recipient of the 1986 Christus Primus award by Concordia College, Ann Arbor. His published writings include several series in Portals of Prayer, My Devotions and similar publications, as well as articles for magazines and journals. He also published a genealogical study on The Kramers of Paitzdorf, Germany and Perry County, Missouri which won the 2003 Award of Merit (for a major work) from the Concordia Historical Institute, St. Louis.

Kramer married Valerie nee Moeller, a registered nurse, on June 27, 1948. The couple’s four children are Judith Van Andel (husband Roger), Lake Elmo, MN; Ruth Zielke (husband Ade), Woodstock, IL; Jonathan (wife Jill), Nixa, MO; and Michael (wife Carla), Columbia, MO. The immediate family includes 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister Arlene Behmer of Little Rock, AR.

Services: 

Visitation:

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 12345 Manchester Road, Des Peres, MO, Saturday, February 8, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Funeral:

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 12345 Manchester Road, Des Peres, Saturday, February 8, 2:00 p.m.

Interment:

St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, 921 North Ballas Road, Des Peres, after funeral service.

If desired, contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, MO, to Kramer scholarship funds at Concordia Seminary, St. Catharines or Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Arrangements: SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Rd., Ballwin, MO 63011.