Lee was born September 1, 1947, in Waukegan, Illinois, where he lived the first 30+ years of his life. Following graduation from Waukegan Township High School in 1966, Lee pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. After a semester at Milwaukee School of Engineering, he transferred to the University of Illinois – Champaign/Urbana where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1970. He then landed his first mechanical engineering position with Hough Company (which later became International Harvester, then part of Dresser Industries, merging with Komatsu to form Komatsu-Dresser and ultimately Komatsu). He earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Lake Forest School of Management in 1983. After leaving Komatsu where he last served as Engineering Manager of the Libertyville Plant, he held various management positions at Blount in Zebulon, NC, Timberjack outside Birmingham, AL, and Upright in Selma, CA. In 2003, Lee joined forces with Don Ahern to develop the Fresno Engineering Design Group and later the creation of Xtreme Manufacturing, where he served as VP of Engineering. Lee played an integral role in the development of the first Xtreme telehandlers and went on to lead the growth of the Xtreme Manufacturing business in his role as President. Along the way, Lee met the love of his life and married Joan Kapheim of North Chicago, IL, on October 25, 1980. They had two children together: a son, Justin Lee (1984) and daughter, Jordan Lynn (1986). Justin, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, is a submarine officer and a 2010 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He married Kathleen Perret on September 18, 2010, and they are currently expecting their first child – a daughter. Kathleen, also a naval officer, is attending medical school through the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. Lee’s daughter Jordan is a 2014 graduate of Minot State University in Minot, ND, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is employed as a supervisor for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, a residential treatment center for at-risk youth. Lee was a committed family man and his children were always a source of great pride for him. Lee’s other loves included his Boston Terrier, Mellie, who spent many hours sitting on Lee’s lap as he read or watched TV in his favorite lounge chair. His was also the proud owner of a 50th Anniversary Porsche 911 that Lee and his son Justin had customized and ordered. He loved his job with the Xtreme Manufacturing Company, and all of the wonderful people with whom he worked and to whom he was extremely dedicated. Flowers will be accepted. There is also a Memorial Fund established with Plaza Bank, of which funds will be used for the benefit of engineering students in need. Checks/Donations should be made to: Memorial fund for Lee Kramer. Deposits can be sent to: Plaza Bank, 8275 W Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89147.
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