John Calvin Cramer, 85, a devoted husband, father, military man, and law enforcement officer, passed into the loving arms of God on Saturday, July 22nd after serving as a good and wise protector for many. Born in 1938 to Aloysius Cyril ("Cy") and Mable Cramer in Bucyrus, Ohio, John was the eldest of five siblings. At 18, he answered the call to serve his country and joined the United States Air Force in 1956. He served with merit in the Vietnam War and was stationed at numerous posts both stateside and abroad. It was during his assignment to Albrook Air Force Base in Panama City that he met the love of his life Gisela "Chela" Arosemena on a blind date. He was tall and lanky; she was petite and beautiful. A happy and handsome couple, they married in Panama in 1962 and started a family. John retired as a Security Police Flight Commander in July 1976 with the rank of Technical Sergeant after 20 years of decorated service. He settled with his family in the Tampa Bay area and joined the Pasco County Sheriffs Office, where he served successively as a correctional officer, the Warden of Corrections, and a Deputy Sheriff from 1976 to 1986. He capped his extensive security and law enforcement career as a Florida Department of Corrections Probation Officer with the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit from 1991 to 1994. In his early years of retirement, John obtained his commercial drivers license and became a long haul truck driver, crisscrossing the country, and then worked with several state and federal agencies until fully retiring to spend more time with his family. John was passionate about travel, having lived overseas in Panama, Vietnam, and Turkey, and stateside in Ohio, Oregon, Florida, Massachusetts, and Michigan, and having driven to or through nearly every state in the continental United States. He was also very proud of his academic achievements. He earned his GED while serving in the Air Force and his Bachelors of Arts in Criminology from St. Leo College in 1983 while working full-time for the Sheriffs Office. John loved his family fiercely and as a fifth generation member of the Roman Catholic Church, loved his faith. He was a long-time member of St. Rita Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus and served as a Eucharistic minister. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Gisela; his brother, James Cramer (Ruth); his children, Judge Elizabeth Rice (Edwin), Michele Hicks, and John Cramer II; his grandchildren, Kevin Hicks (Samantha), Jason Hicks, Alexandra Rice, Erin Rice, and Maya Cramer Hagelin; his great-grandchildren, McKenzie and Kye; and his many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his sister, Barbara Evans; his brothers, David Cramer and Mark Cramer; and his son-in-law, Melvin Hicks. His viewing will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the St. Leo Abbey from 3:30-4:00 p.m., followed by a funeral mass at 4:00 p.m. and a celebration of life reception to follow at 6:00 PM at the home of Tony Hicks (12930 Williams Road, Dade City, FL 33525). A military burial service will be held for family members only on Friday, August 11, 2023, at the Florida National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. with Military Honors being conducted by the Sumter County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at www.dav.org can be made or for those who wish to send flowers to the church, please schedule the delivery to arrive by 3PM Memorial Donation Visitation Thursday, August 10, 2023 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Memorial Mass Thursday, August 10, 2023 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM St. Leo Abbey 33601 Co Rd 52, San Antonio, Florida 33574