Obituary of Tony Kram

Services will be held on Monday for Tony Kram who passed away on April 24th. He was 88 years old. Born October, 20, 1923 Tony was the second child of Phillip & Katie Kram of Osnabrock, North Dakota. Tony grew up on a wheat farm during the depression, later he met the love of his life Myrtle, at the Roxy theater in Langdon, North Dakota. Soon after, in 1947, they moved to California. In his younger years this hard working young man, held many odd jobs; gas station mechanic, worked for Granite Rock, The Shipyards of Vallejo, as a Volunteer firefighter in Watsonville, and drove big trucks and tractors for farmers. He became a licensed building contractor in 1958. He built over 450 custom, residential and commercial properties throughout Santa Cruz County. Even though he retired in 1975, he continued to build whenever anyone asked for him to share his talents and expertise. He never stopped his love of helping others. The foreman for his construction company for many years was his brother in law Lloyd Fischer. They hunted, fished and camped as their families were growing. Family gatherings at the Grange Hall included numerous relatives from both sides of the family. Tony was member of the Watsonville Elks Club and the Mount Madonna Grange. His hobbies where hunting,( elk, deer, wild pig, & rattlesnakes) fishing in ( lakes, streams and the ocean) & playing poker every Wednesday and Friday at the Villa Santa Cruz club house for 26 years. His hunting ranged from the hills of Dos Palos and Los Banos to Alaska, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and Canada Tony and Myrtle enjoyed their extensive worldwide trips. After Tony's retirement the couple continued to travel with family and friends in their 5th wheel trailer. Tony is survived by his 4 daughters; Joanne ( Phil Pedemonte) Kathy Kram, Linda (Neil Harvey), Bobbie (Calvin Smith) Grandchildren, Michele Hylton , Phil Pedemonte Jr, Stacy Story, Kristy Smith, Brian Smith, Hannah Kram, also great-grandchildren, Kevin Bingaman, Kendrick Posey, Seanele Hylton, Marcus Pedemonte, Mia Pedemonte, Logan, Gracie, & Ella Story. He is also survived by his siblings; Betty Gravelle, Joe Kram, Katherine Stamm, Maggie Giles , Anna Johnson He was proceeded in death by his wife Myrtle; parents Phillip & Katie Kram, and brother John. Memorial services for Tony will be held on Monday, April 30th at 11:00 a.m. at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Tony's memory to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or your favorite charity.