Dan died peacefully on December 17, 2017 at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona, after a valiant battle with neuroendocrine cancer.
He was born to Elayne (Johnson) and Daniel Kraemer on August 13, 1948 in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Dan married Barbara Purfeerst on May 11, 1974 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in River Falls. Together they had one daughter, Nicole E. (Joseph) Young, and two grandchildren: Hailey Kraemer and Gabriyl Kraemer-Young.
Dan was a veteran in the Vietnam War enlisting in the US Air Force in 1966. He completed his basic training at Lakeland AFB in San Antonio and received his aircraft training at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls Texas. He worked on RF-4C fighter planes used in the Vietnam War.
He was in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive by the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army from 1968-1969. After returning home he was in the Air Force Reserve for 18 years while working for the federal government at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. He then completed his degree at Oscar Rose College in Oklahoma, transferring to the Department of Defense as a Quality Assurance Inspector.
Throughout his lifetime he visited over 30 countries in his specialty service. Dan also served his last three years of his profession as a Quality Assurance Inspector in our current war in Afghanistan before retiring in 2012. He loved his service to his country and meeting military friends through his travels.
Dan was proceeded in death by both his parents and sister Janet (Tom) Enloe.
Dan is survived by his wife Barbara; daughter Nicole; grandchildren Hailey and Gabriyl; siblings Karen (Martell), Kathy, Donna (Duane) Driscoll, Dawn, Craig (Lisa), Scott; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dan’s driving force was watching his daughter Nicole grow into a beautiful brave woman, and enjoying the young lives of his grandchildren – Hailey and Gabriyl. He supported and guided them as a positive life coach, always leading by example.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, he loved reminiscing with old friends through phone calls and visits.
God Bless America
and
The Green Bay Packers.
Mass of Christian burial for Daniel will be held Saturday, January 13th at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 211 E. Division St. in River Falls, WI, with Rev. Fr. Jerry Harris officiating. Visitation will take place at 9:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., lunch and celebration of life to follow. Burial will take place at St. Bridget Catholic Cemetery. Services are in the care of the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home of River Falls, WI
