James L. Kramer

James L. Kramer, 80, of Tucson, Arizona passed away February 4, 2025. He was born August 26, 1944 in Maywood, California to Joseph Victor and Laura Rensche (Reffner) Kramer but lived most of his adult life in the San Francisco and Oakland, California area.

James spent time in the Navy but never on ships, he spent time in airplanes detecting and reporting enemy submarines. However, his passion was travel. Jim was always on the move. He would share stories of his adventures, like doing the Lewis & Clark Expedition and showing the many pictures he took. Uncle Jim found himself living in Spain for a time and also alone on a house boat for a time and at the foot of Mount Shasta in a town named Shingleton for a few years, then moving back to Oakland, California.

Jim would use his travel knowledge to have amazing intellectual conversations. He wanted to be able to help schools through education. His travel meant that he would come and go in the lives of his family. That didn't stop him from being a loving son, brother and uncle.

James enjoyed time with his family and friends, organizing there time together, but he also wanted his alone time too. He made sure that even though he often kept a distance he still knew his neighbors and was welcoming. He had a very special friend he kept in touch with throughout many years (she knows who she is) and our family hopes she will keep in touch still.

Growing old was not something that Jim liked, and he did not want to outlive those he loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings. 

Jim is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, and was especially fond of his sister Martha's kids; Cindy Morales, Nancy Vera, Joe Nevarez, Tom Nevarez and Rebecca Gipple.