John G. Kramer, Jr.

John was born to John G. Kramer, Sr. and Dolores Slattery Kramer on July 25, 1948 in Rockville Center, NY. He was raised in Elmont, NY with his siblings, Robert Kramer and Dolores Kramer Couch.

In his youth, John loved to spend time racing around the streets of Nassau and Queens in his ’66 Chevelle, as well as drag racing at National Speedway and Westhampton Racetrack on Long Island. “Ya snooze Ya Lose” was one of his favorite sayings referring to the “Christmas tree” at the track and for things in life in general.

He married in 1968 and moved to Yaphank, NY in 1969 where he went into business with his two best friends, Steve “Murphy” Murray and Kenny Bolner, and opened KBM garage & gas station. During this time, John had three children, Jill Kramer Pesce, John G. Kramer, III, and Joy Kramer Hellwig whom he loved unconditionally and wholeheartedly.

In addition to being a great mechanic, John was also an electrician; a trade he learned by working with his Uncle Danny Slattery by wiring businesses and homes in Nassau County. He then went on to work as an electrician for the IBEW Local Union No. 25 where he retired as a Master Electrician.

To say John was handy was an understatement. “If Kramer couldn't fix it, you were screwed!” was something we all used to say and laugh with him about and we even called him Schneider with all the keys he had for everything from people’s businesses to their homes. Everyone trusted him because he was an honest man and if he was your friend, he was your friend for life. He also had his own contracting business called Remark Services (“Kramer” spelled backwards – he was pretty clever too) and did beautiful work for his customers.

John gained a daughter-in-law, Melissa Bocklage Kramer in 1999 and a son-in-law, John Pesce in 2004. He became a grandfather in 2005 to John G. Kramer, IV, in 2007 to Denny Hellwig, and in 2015 to Jake Kramer. John celebrated every holiday, occasion, event, and birthday party with his family. He lived for his grandchildren and they adored him and all of his quirky, “just thinking about you” gifts he would send to them in the mail.

He was an honest, hardworking man and a loyal friend. If he loved you, it was for real and if you were his friend, it was for life. He was someone you knew you could always call in a jam, no matter what time, and he would be there with whatever was needed to get you right again without question and expecting nothing in return. That’s just who he was and who we are all going to miss so very much.