Former Kane County Sheriff George Kramer dies at 81

Former Kane County Sheriff George Kramer died Saturday at the age of 81.

Just two months before passing, George Kramer got to see his son, Donald Kramer, be sworn in as Kane County Sheriff.

"He just put his arm around me and told me he was proud of me. He had a tear in his eye," Donald Kramer told the Daily Herald after the ceremony on December 1. "He's been my mentor my whole life. I know right from wrong because my father taught me that."

According to an obituary posted on Donald Kramer's Facebook page, George Kramer was born August 20, 1933, to Evelyn (nee Holter) Kramer and Herman B. Kramer of rural Aurora. He was raised on a dairy farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse on Deerpath Road.

Sheriff Donald Kramer could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

George Kramer was a stellar athlete from an early age. He attended Marmion Military Academy from 1949 to 1952 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994. After graduating high school, he attended Dayton University on a football scholarship. He returned home after a year to help on the farm and would not return to college until the early 70s to earn his Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement, first at Waubonsee Community College and at Lewis University.

George Kramer began his police career in 1954 at the Batavia Police Department. He was elected sheriff in 1978 and served two terms. Throughout his police career George Kramer was known for his work with juvenile offenders.

With the assistance of good friend and Undersheriff Pete Perez, he created the Kane County Juvenile Officer's Association and several other programs for helping juvenile offenders.

Perez's son, former Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, said Sunday night the two men tried to visit the youth homes to better understand the problems they may be having there.

"If the problem is at home you know it might spill over into his school life," Pat Perez said. "They saw that as an avenue to help get kids back on the straight and narrow."

Pat Perez said the two men had a friendship that was important to both of them.

"They'd seen the ups and downs of law enforcement together," Pat Perez said. "I think they learned to stay to be willing to evolve."

George Kramer is survived by his wife Trudy Kramer and the seven children they had together. According to his obituary, the two met through mutual friends after high school and were married in 1953. They started their life together at Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base in Missouri where he was stationed.

Pat Perez said he remembers George Kramer being someone who had a big presence and was the kind of guy who could light up a room.

"He was a giant of a man that a lot of guys looked up to," Pat Perez said. "Many guys still do."