Aurora's Old Central Fire Station is draped in black in mourning for Lt. Randall Kramp, (Aurora Fire Deparment). Born April 8, 1967, Randy joined the department on April 4, 1994. He bravely fought a battle with pancreatic cancer for 3 years. May he now rest in peace. The memorial details will be as follows: Thursday, June 24, 2010 Memorial Viewing from 2 to 8pm (fire department line-up at 5:30pm, walk-through at 6:00pm, ) Daleiden Mortuary 220 N. Lake Street, Aurora IL Friday, June 25, 2010 Funeral at 10am St. Rita of Cascia Church 770 Old Indian Trail, Aurora IL Internment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery (South Lincoln Ave. and Simms St.) with an Aurora Fire Department Engine leading the funeral procession.   Randy adjusting the straps on his airpack while at a house fire 2004. From the collection of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Randall (Randy) Kramp Lieutenant, Aurora Fire Department Badge # 425

Obituary from the Beacon News . . . http://legacy.suburbanchicagonews.com/obituaries/stng-beaconnews/obituary.aspx?n=lt-randall-r-kramp&pid=143706430 Lt. Randall R. Kramp 1967 2010 Randy Kramp, 43, a three year survivor of pancreatic cancer, succumbed to complications of treatment. Not wanting to stay in the hospital, he died less than two hours after arriving home via private ambulance with siren and lights flashing, a fitting finish for a proud firefighter. Randy graduated from East Aurora High School in 1985 and from Lewis University in 1990. Although he enjoyed his employment at the Aurora Airport in aviation maintenance, his proudest accomplishment was joining the Aurora Fire Department in 1994. He was the sixth man in three generations of his family to serve. He was also a paramedic and a member of the Scuba Rescue Team. Boy Scouts always played an important role in Randy's life. It gave him his love and respect for the outdoors and camping. Randy was an Eagle Scout and had recently received a District Merit Award. He was active in Scouts his entire life. Randy's childhood dream of owning cool lawnmowers (some dreams are smaller than others) came true when he started a part-time lawn mowing service. Another dream of his was to fly and he made that come true when he earned his private pilot's license. He married his lifemate, Ruth Stammer, on April 6, 2002. They made their home in Aurora but their favorite place to spend time together was at their 'piece of heaven' in Wisconsin. Although life did not allow them time to build a cabin, the plans they made around the campfire or floating on their boat are happy memories for Ruth. Randy was an active member of St. Rita of Cascia Church, the Phoenix Club and the Aurora Firefighters Local 99. He leaves to mourn him, yet cherish his memory, his loving wife and best friend, Ruth; his mother, Alice Kramp; his sisters, Tari (Scott) Hankes, Barb (Stan) Myers and Linda (Chuck) Leese; his in-laws, Francis and Rose Marie Stammer and Ruth's siblings, Mary "Francie" (Ron) Smart, Janni (Mike Young) Stammer, Don (Debra) Stammer, Julie (Richard) Smith, Lori (Dennis) Hahn, Patrick (Yasmine) Stammer, his beloved nieces and nephews Kayte Hankes, Kelly Michael and Noah Myers, Morgan Leese, April, Tony and Patrick Stammer, John Smart, Samantha Young and Joseph, Ellie and David Hahn; his closest friends Chris (who he met in grade school) and Karen Mang, Brad and Janice Westrom and Chris and Lisa Oros. He was preceded in death by his father Ralph Kramp and his nephew Christopher Hankes. Visitation will be Thursday, June 24, 2010 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 N. Lake Street, Aurora, IL. 60506 (630) 631-5500, where there will be a brief prayer service at 6:00 pm. Funeral services will be Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:00 am at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 750 West Old Indian Trail, Aurora, 60506. (630) 892-5918. Family and friends are asked to meet in church on Friday morning. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, to honor his love of scouting and the outdoors, the family asks that memorials be made to: Boy Scouts of America 415 N. 2nd Ave. St. Charles, IL. 60175 or to the: Aurora Fire Department Explorer Post 99 C/O Aurora Fire Department 75 N. Broadway, Aurora, IL. 60505. We will all look for you "left of the moon."

Do you have a story, photograph, or remembrance of Randy that you would like to share? Send us an e-mail, and we will post it here.... David Lewis, curator -- email:ARFMinfo@aol.com Randy grew up as the son of Aurora Fire Department Chief Ralph Kramp. I remember asking him, "what was it like having your dad as fire chief?" He remembered a pretty normal childhood --- with the exception of having the "red phone" (a direct line to the fire department dispatchers at the old central fire station) hanging in front hallway of their house. As Randy spoke of the "red phone" his voice became hushed and more reverent. He explained, anytime there was a large fire or emergency, the on duty fire dispatcher could direct-dial the fire chief's home, and likewise Chief Kramp needed only to pick up the red phone to speak directly with Aurora's central fire alarm office. Randy remembered, his dad giving him strict instructions never to touch the red phone. I asked, "Oh, didn't you feel tempted... to pick it up, just once?" . . . Randy replied, "NEVER!" -- David Lewis, curator ARFM