Dr. Arnold Paul Krammer, Ph.D.
August 15, 1941 – September 24, 2018
Dr. Arnold Krammer, 77, of Bryan, passed away on Monday, September 24, 2018, in Bryan. Dr. Krammer’s family will receive guests during visiting hours from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Thursday, September 27, 2018, at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center, 3001 South College Ave., Bryan. There will be a private interment. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.
Arnold Krammer was born in Chicago, Il, on August 15, 1941, to David and Eva (Vas) Krammer. He studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he erned his BS, MS, and, in 1970, PhD. He came to Texas A&M University in 1974, retiring in 2015 having taught thousands of Aggies American and German history. His specialties included the Frist and Second World Wars, 20th Century Germany, and the Holocaust. He led numerous Study Abroad groups of Aggies to Germany, Italy, Normandy, and Poland. He was twice honored with the University Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching.
His parents, David and Eva precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife of twenty-seven years, Jan Smith Krammer; his sons Adam Krammer, of San Francisco, Doug and wife Erin Krammer of College Station; his brother Steven and wife Marlene Krammer, of Los Angeles; his adored grandchildren Mya, Avery, and Nathan; and countless treasured friends.
Memorial donations can be made to Health for All or to Hospice Brazos Valley.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
Dr. Krammer was the next-door neighbor and a friend of my sister’s many years ago and he taught me and my 5 siblings that went through Texas A&M. He loved picking on us and telling everyone that we had been in his class for 4 semesters and wished that we’d pick on a different prof. I loved the maps that he drew and his opening line “Any problem, crisis or situations? No? So we have poor Jurkis working his brains out in the Chicago meat packing plant…” He was a brilliant man and made learning history a lot of fun. God rest his soul! My thoughts and condolences to his family.
Arnie my dear friend I mourn your passing. You were the ultimate “class act” and I deeply valued your friendship. I treasure our time together and the memories we made during them. May you rest peacefully in the arms of God.
I can still remember Dr. Krammer pausing in the middle of a lecture in our History of Germany class to enlighten us on the etymology of random words: trivia, sabotage, sinister…
Every lecture was fascinating and every pause was filled with some equally interesting tidbit. His enthusiasm was only exceeded by his stunning wealth of knowledge. I still have my notes and syllabus from the class I took in the fall semester of 1980. To his family: Please know how deeply Dr. Krammer was loved and respected by his students. As for me, he is one of the reasons I became a teacher. My time with him was a gift.
Jan, I am so very sorry for your loss. Dr. Krammer was so kind when I started working at TAMU, 11 years ago, and was one of my favorites. He always had a story to tell. He holds a special place in my heart for his kindness. I have heard from different students saying Dr. Krammer was the best at what he did. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Tom and Rita Walker
I was a grad student taking a makeup essay exam in the hall of the Academic Building and laboring mightily when a young, cute prof sauntered past me and dropped a peppermint on my desk and just kept going. That was my introduction to Dr. Krammer.
Much later we were colleagues, and I remember running into him at one of the jazz fests and chatting, and part of me still marveled at the privilege of knowing him. I think I always will. What a warm and good-hearted man he was.
I was in Dr Kramer’s first Study Abroad group to Germany in 1989. I grew up on a farm in the Panhandle and he taught me to open my eyes and mind to other cultures. He and Jan taught me so much about life and the world that summer. I have since been back to Germany 10 times and 19 countries total. Thanks again “Uncle Arnie” for everything!!!
I am so very sorry for your loss with Arnie’s passing. You have been and will continue to be in my prayers. Arnie was a special man and I liked him very much.
I’m sad that Arnie is no longer with us, but very glad that I had gotten to know him. A year ago April he accepted my invitation to give a talk about the POW camps for German and Austrian soldiers during the 1940’s. What a great talk it was, and what an interesting read is his book on this subject. Our lives are fuller for having known Arnie.
Dr. Krammer was one of my first professors at A&M in 1975, and it must have been after he just started teaching there. I still remember his History classes over 40 years later as fascinating and packed with incredible knowledge. I loved his class as he brought history to life! What a wonderful professor he was. Blessings to his wife and family.
Jan and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Arnie was a great guy. So smart, funny, just a sweet guy. God bless . Lorine Corn ,Franklin,Tx
Boy, am I sad to see this. Although I knew Dr. Krammer was retired, I still harbored some kind of hope that my son would be able to take a class from him someday. I knew Dr. Krammer first from working with and for him at the history department, and later had the privilege of taking a class from him. He was always so cheerful, so positive and funny. When I was working at the history department I don’t think a day went by that he didn’t give me a smile and ask how I was. He gifted me a book that he’d authored, and I’ll treasure that as well as the memories of a fascinating, jovial, incredible professor. Rest well, Dr. Krammer.
Best Professor Ever. I’ll never forget, towards the end of our Study Abroad trip to Germany in 1989, our class gathered in front of the Berlin Wall underneath a “Don’t Mess With Texas A&M” bumper sticker for a class picture. It made the Germans so mad that 4 months later they tore the whole thing down! RIP and Thank You Uncle Arnie for instilling in me a love of history and travel and introducing me to lifelong friends including my wife of 25 years.
Hugs, thoughts and prayers to Aunt Jan, Cousin Doug and all who got the opportunity to spend some time with this amazing man.
What an awesome professor. I so enjoyed his class and his Nazi History class was what fueled my passion for history especially of the 20th century. He would hang out with us around the rotunda of the academic building before his class every day, smoking a cigarette and talking to us. He really enjoyed teaching and always brought his best to class. Years later, my son was in his American History class at my recommendation. He told Dr. Krammer that he was my son and he still remembered me from over 20 years before! I’m so glad I got to be in his class. I’m sorry that his life was cut short and that he had to leave his family. Just know he was a great professor and he impacted many lives.
A one of a kind. I studied under Dr Krammer and I knew him for many years during the 70’s and 80’s. He taught me a lot and I will always be grateful for his tutelage. I’m saddened to hear of his passing. Blessings to his wife and family.
Dr Krammer was such a kind man. The employees of Central Texas Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics and Physical Therapy were honored to have gotten to know him and will miss him.
Our condolences to his wife and family.
Nancy Adams
Dr Krammer was one of my first Professors at TAMU and by far the one I remember the most. I was fascinated by his knowledge and the stories of the POW camps in TX. God Bless you and your family.
My husband Don worked with Dr. Krammer at Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center a number of years ago after a medical crisis. Dr. Krammer worked very hard in rehab. and Don always spoke very highly of him. I know Dr. Krammer will be missed by many.. I am expressing this to the family because Don passed away in April of this year.
Dr. Krammer was my favorite professor at TAMU. He had such a deep love of teaching and it was evident. He made learning personal, and he really brought history to life. I still vividly recall the stories he would tell (the man who rode the subway car in Chicago showing everyone his bayonet scar from WW1), the Holocaust survivor we had come to class (from Theresienstadt), and I’ll always cherish all of Dr. Krammer’s sayings (and yes, the way he would draw maps: “this is Germany,” *drawing a circle on the board* “and let’s say it is”). He was truly one of a kind, and a real gift to his students, the University, and everyone who ever had the pleasure to meet him. Rest in peace, dear Dr. Krammer.
Arnie…how I will miss him. A dear, sweet individual..to Jan, his children, and grandchildren, our deepest condolences. Lunches at Napa Flats will never be the same and Gold’s gym will seem empty without his presence.
Arnie’s brother Steven and their mother Ava were were great friends of mine when they lived in Houston. We always had a great time when Arnie visited. A brilliant mind and a great sense of humor. The world is a lesser place without him.
I do not think I can put into words what an impact Dr. Kramer had in my professional life as my major professor in graduate school. It would be even harder to say what an impact he had on me as a mentor in my personal life. He was a gentlemen in the truest sense of the word. Dr. Kramer had a ready ear and a quick but gentle wit. He was charming, disarming, and sincerely cared for others. When I questioned my own path, he was a rock. I will always cherish our talks, and our regular walks across campus to get a piece of pie and a cup of coffee. May the Lord bring peace and comfort to all who knew and loved him. There is no doubt that number includes everyone who was blessed to met him.
Arni, my friend and college roommate at UW Madison so long ago. I remember you so well Arni, like yesterday, books upon books, friends till dawn, guitars, the long nites, studying all night; Bascom Hill, North Henry Street, you were a good friend, and although I didn’t keep in touch over the years, I’m truly not surprised to learn that you were a one of a kind, magnificent teacher, loved by your many students; respected by your peers. And that you had a wonderful, loving wife and family. I’m so sorry to learn of your death; God bless you and your family. I’ll say hello on the other side.
If is with great sadness I read of Arnie’s passing. He was my mentor and friend during our time together at Parsons College. As a college teacher I hope I do for my students half of what Arnie did for me. He was my rock and defender when I was editor of the college paper saving me frequently from myself and the administration
His memory remains with me as a blessing and a blessing to eberone’s Life he touched.
I am so sorry to learn of Dr. Krammer’s death. He never knew me, but I have learned much of what I know about German POWs in WWII from his publications. He was a gifted historian and must have pushed himself very heard to accomplish as much as he did. Are there any recordings of his lectures re: German POWs?
I am currently at work on a novel about a German POW washed up on an Alabama beach, having survived a U-Boat sinking. If I manage to get it published, I’d like to send your family a copy; you’ll recognize much of what Dr. Krammer wrote about.
Sincerely,
Rosellen Bohlen
As en engineering student, History was never my favorite class… until I took American History with Professor Krammer in 1988! But the story doesn’t end here. After learning that I was an American who’d lived overseas all my life and had never taken a class in American history, Professor Krammer took extra time in his office to explain it to me, and thereafter became a mentor while I was a student, and a friend after I graduated. I moved overseas again, and we remained in touch and met every time I visited A&M, the last time being in the summer of 2018. He met my family and gifted them wonderful historical artefacts that we treasure dearly. I recall and treasure every moment spent with Professor Krammer, and recall the etymology of every word he explained to us as students, and to my children when he met them. Rest in Peace, Professor Krammer…
I just learned of the passing of Professor Arnold Krammer – he was not only my professor of history (who taught me a great deal, and not just about history), but he was also a mentor and a friend. He made history interesting and accessible for many students at Texas A&M, including those who did not major in history. I think particularly of a time during my undergraduate career where I experienced some academic difficulties; he stood by me when no one else would. He encouraged me to pursue my research into various topics of German history and supported me tremendously. I often think of the wisdom he imparted on me and I hope he would have been proud of what I’ve accomplished in my career. Möge er in Frieden ruhen!
Dr. Kramer was a wonderful man. I will never forget what a privilege it was to attend his lectures, or once when he gave at least an hour of his time to be interviewed by another student and I about The Beatles, when we were doing a project for another class. Dr. Kramer lives on in the hearts of all those he mentored.
Arnie was one of the most influential people in my college years at Parsons in Fairfield, Iowa. He always was challenging me to think deeper and ask more questions. His sense of humour was rooted in his Jewish identity and years in Chicago. There were a few times, as editor of the campus paper, I clashed with the administration. After all, it was the 1960s; Arnie was always there to defend me and keep me in school. Once, reflecting on my early years as a teacher, I realized my teaching style was patterned after his. For the years we were at Parsons, he was a friend, mentor, teacher, defence council, and go-between with my parents. In short, he was a mensch.
Just found out. I wrote a question to Arnie about an obscure incident that took place at a POW camp in Luxembourg in 1944. I knew that if anyone had any information about it Arnie would be the one. A huge loss, a great guy. RIP.