WILLIAMSBURG — George S. “Bud” Kraemer was a decorated Marine who survived fighting in World War II to serve as a drill sergeant during the Korean War. Afterward, he was a police officer for the city of Norwood for 26 years.

        He was a generous soul who did for others. A typical gesture was serving doughnuts to his men on the ship when they were returning home from the war.

        “He was the type of policeman that if you got in trouble and you needed his help, he helped you,” said his daughter Yvonne Becker of Fayetteville, Ohio.

        Mr. Kraemer, 79, died July 15 of kidney and congestive heart failure at his residence at Locust Ridge Nursing Home in Williamsburg. The longtime Norwood resident had moved there last fall.

        He was only 13 when the Civilian Conservation Corps put him to work in a logging camp. As soon as he could, he joined the Marines and became one of the original Edson's Raiders as part of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in the South Pacific.

        He received the Purple Heart for taking a bayonet in the back and was listed as missing in action when his entire squad became lost behind enemy lines. He was one of only three to return.

        Although he came home from the war with malaria, he was called to serve again when the Korean War broke out. He was a drill sergeant with the 6th Marine Raider Battalion at Parris Island, S.C.

        Mr. Kraemer joined the Norwood Police Department in 1956 and retired in 1978.

        A member of several veterans' organizations and the Masons, he was the “center of attention at all the parties,” said his daughter. “He was the one that kept everyone going.”

        Mr. Kraemer was a member of the Norwood Masonic Lodge No. 576 F&AM; the Valley of Cincinnati Scottish Rite; the Shriners Temple of Cincinnati; American Legion Post No. 103 in Norwood; the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 449 in Norwood; the Moose Lodge Post No. 103; American AMVETS No. 212; V.F.W. Post No. 3744 in Rossmoyne; Edson's Raider Association; USMC Raider Association; the 6th Marine Division Association; and the Marine Corps League Triangle.

        He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey Jansen Kraemer, in 1993.

        In addition to his daughter Yvonne, survivors include: another daughter, Jill Sprowl of Norwood; a son, Michael Kraemer of Milford; a sister, Vera Livesay of Norwood; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

        Memorial Mass is 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Cecilia Church, 3105 Madison Road, Oakley. A celebration of life will be 1-5 p.m. Saturday, V.F.W. Hall of Post No. 9630, 4283 Stoddard Lane, Willowville.

        Memorials: Locust Ridge Nursing Home, 12745 Elm Corner Road, Williamsburg 45176.

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