Carl G. Kratzer

Kratzer, Carl G.
Appleton

Age 83, passed away at Cherry Meadows in Appleton on Sunday, December 16, 2007. He was born in Port Washington, WI on November 11, 1924, the son of the late Hans and Mabel (Hiller) Kratzer. Carl graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He proudly volunteered to serve in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a B-24 navigator bombardier. He received many decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross. On June 7, 1952, he married his wife of 55 years, Helen Spasoff. Carl began his restaurant career in Port Washington and Saukville, WI. In 1967, Carl, Helen and their family moved to Appleton to open their first Burger King on Wisconsin Avenue, culminating 33 years later with 22 restaurants in more than one dozen cities. The Masonic Lodge was an important part of Carl’s life. He was a member of the Ozaukee Lodge# 17 F&AM in Port Washington, WI, a Noble of the Tripoli Shrine, and a Past Worthy Patron of Eastern Star #147. He was a past board member of Valley Northern Bank and The Fox Valley Family Practice Residency Program. Carl enjoyed many things including: golf, fishing in Canada with his friends, trips to the ball park, being at Horseshoe Lake, or just relaxing in the back yard with his family. Carl truly enjoyed the ability to give back to the community that had given so much to him.

Carl is survived by his wife, Helen; children: Kristine (Donald) Hietpas, Steven (Rhea) Kratzer, Carol (Bruce) Valk, Trina Reynolds, all of Appleton; grandchildren: Joseph (Shay) Hietpas of St. Louis, MO; Ann (Jeffrey) Prince of Ithaca, NY; Kristin, Jenna, and Margaret Hietpas of Appleton; Carlyn and Grant Kratzer of Appleton; Sylvia and Carl Valk of Appleton; and Hillary and Nicholas Reynolds of Appleton; sister, Katherine (Clark) Scoggins of Atlanta, GA; sisters-in-law: Nada Bevic, Mary Beronja, and Dolores (Nick) Tseffos, brother-in-law, Steve (Diane) Spasoff. He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Paul Karnstedt, and his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Mary Kratzer; Helen’s parents; Stoiko and Cveta Spasoff; sister-in-law, Sylvia Spasoff, and brother-in-law, Louis Bevic.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 724 E. South River St., Appleton, with Rev. Stephen P. Savides and Rev. Jane B. Anderson officiating. Friends will be received at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Carl’s name will be donated to the Kratzer Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, P.O. Box 563, Appleton, WI 54912.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Dr. Gene Rigstad, Dr. David Buchanan, Dr. Dirk Fisher, Dr. Clark Boren, and Dr. John Swanson. Further, a special thank you to Connie Iattoni and Amy Ambrosius of Theda Care at Home, the extraordinary staff at Cherry Meadows Hospice, and the hyperbaric team and valets at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231