Charles W. Kraemer, 98, of Mesa, AZ formally of Lake Bluff, IL

Charles William Kraemer, 98, passed away on April 27, 2022 in Mesa, AZ. He was born on February 27, 1924, in Chicago, IL to William and Bertha (nee Weltge) Kraemer. He graduated from Amundsen High School in Chicago, and then attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated from Northwestern University in Business. While at Northwestern University, he was a Jazz trumpet player and Big Band leader. Later, he played trumpet and led a big band in Hollywood, Ca. & Las Vegas, NV. While singing in the Hollywood Presbyterian Church Choir in California, he met his wife Eleanor Lee Nichols and they were married on April 17, 1954.

In the insurance business, he was V.P. of Manpower Development for Continental Insurance, Director of Agencies at Continental Assurance Company (CNA), V.P. of Marketing at Northwest Life of Canada and Regional Director of Agencies for Capital Life. Later, he started his own Insurance Brokerage Company, Kraemer and Associates, where he developed pooled self-funded programs consisting of schools, municipalities, libraries, & park districts, and founded Health Plan Management, a Third Party Administration Company.

As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, he served as Elder, Deacon, Sanctuary Choir President, Leader of the Stephen Ministry Program and served on numerous committees including membership and worship. After his wife Eleanor died, he met his current wife, Lynda (nee Scranton) Kraemer, in the church choir where they were married on June 12, 1999. In the Lake Forest community he served on the United Way, Chamber of Commerce and supported many organizations.

He had a warm and friendly personality, and a generosity of spirit that blessed all who knew him. He loved his family deeply and always cherished the times spent together. He is survived by his loving wife, Lynda K. Kraemer; his four loving children, Mark (Christine) Kraemer, Sarah (Floyd) Mohr, Wendy (Mark) Baldwin, and Ellen (Dan) Westel; his loving grandchildren Chuck (Meghan) Mohr, Samantha (Brandon) Hulett, Carolyn (Ian Shelley) Kraemer, Cheryl (Lenny) Weber, Alex Baldwin, Aja Baldwin, Emily Westel, Noelle Westel and Jack Westel; his loving great grandchildren Theodore, Maeve and McKenna Mohr, and Isla, Henry and Luke Hulett. He was preceded in death by his grandson Kevin Mohr, his first wife Eleanor Lee Nichols Kraemer, his brothers Willis Kraemer and Gerd Kraemer, and his parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, May 21st at First Presbyterian Church, 700 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. He will be laid to rest next to his wife Eleanor at Lake Forest Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 700 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 or East Mesa Christian Church, 706 S. Greenfield Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206 in loving memory of Charles. Info: Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com