The History of the Kremer business, The beginning

It was 1948, Kenneth was two, and in December that year Reynold was born. This was the beginning of the History of the Kremer Business Part 1. We had just moved to our first home on 19^th and Vine Street in Milwaukee.  We were renting a house my aunt lived in.  It was the same house in which my foster mother lived as a child. I was born in the same block and my real father still lived a few doors away.

Clarence and his brother Elmer had decided to start a letter service business.  First, They formed a partnership, and rented a corner bakery on 21^st and Vine Street.  This was two blocks from our house and one block from the Kremer residence where Elmer lived.  They named it Kremer Letter Service.  After a few years, they added space by also renting a butcher shop next to the bakery.  They were at this location for about ten years.

The History of the Kremer Business Part 1 involved typing addresses on envelopes for large advertisement mailings.  I, as well as some of my husband’s cousins, would work at home typing addresses on envelopes.  I don’t think they were thinking of a printing business then.  Their dad, Grandpa Kremer, had retired and now helped them with the new business.  He was a great help.  Somehow they acquired a small machine that would print the return addresses on envelopes.  It was not assembled.  Grandpa was good at this.  It turned out that they really had two complete machines that worked.  It was tough times, but Elmer and our family of seven survived.

Charlotte, The new bookkeeper

In 1949 Elmer married Charlotte.  She took over all the record keeping, and bookkeeping at her home however,  It became a thorn in our flesh.  Clarence did all the printing duties, an essential aspect in the History of the Kremer Business Part 1.  Elmer wasn’t well but He came in at noon every day.  In 1957 Grandpa Kremer died.

Moving the Business

In 1961, when the twins were in first grade, I started working at the business.  We drove to work together for the rest of our working days and watched The History of the Kremer Business Part 1 evolve.  in addition, For about 20 years I helped get copy ready to go on the press.  We relocated to North Avenue and renamed the business Kremer Enterprises. After the move,  Some of our first customers were Metzger Machine and Engineering, American Topical Association with Jerry Husak, and Vagabond Ski Club.  Janette Roloff was our first typesetters.

The business actually moved several times in a few years.  From 21^st and Vine we moved to 47^th and Center Street, then to 48^th and Burleigh Street, and finally we moved into a large building on 47^th and North Avenue for a number of years.  Our sons and some of their friends had part-time jobs at the shop.  Even our daughter and some grandchildren have worked there.  Elmer died in 1979.  At that time Clarence was ready to give up the business.

 The Next Generation of Printers

Our children had all gotten their college diplomas.  David was a chef and the other sons were teachers.  But David was not happy where he worked, so he offered to come and help dad with the business. (I remember Dave riding into the shop on his yellow scooter bike!)   I took over the office work.  It was mainly the bookkeeping.  Clarence and Elmer had an agreement if one would quit the business, that the business would be completely owned by the other.

Business started growing.  We bought a large press, then another, and a large paper cutter.  We hired Harry Hughes, Mr. Offutt, and Jean Roque to help with the bindery work.

Reynold was interested in joining the business with the hope of opening a Christian bookstore along with the printing operation.  First, He had been a teacher and principal in Moline, Illinois and Grafton, Wisconsin.  The education he received as a teacher became very helpful.  We added a very nice Christian bookstore.  Every year Ren also wrote Vacation Bible School materials as well as children’s Christmas Eve services for Christian schools.  We were able to print all the necessary materials.

Denis Started in the family business

Also in 1985, Denis came into the picture.  He had been teaching in St. Paul, Minnesota and was having some health problems and was anxious to move back to Wisconsin.  So he became head pressman.  After a short time, dad passed the ownership to the three sons.  They formed a corporation and changed the name to Kremer Publications, Inc.   A big part of the printing was always for Christian churches and schools throughout the country.  Eventually, Our next move was to 72^nd and Center Street in Wauwatosa.  This was the first and only building we owned.

David became head of the art department and the contact between printing customer and the business.  Denis was head of the printing department, and Ren was chief writer and head of the retail store sales.

What other wife and mother can say she wrote her husband’s and son’s paychecks every week? In Addition, we had an average of ten employees at any one time through the years.

The Kremer family was blessed with hard-working, conscientious people.  There was also “party time”.  Every year we had a shop Christmas party.  All the workers and their families were invited.  The first ones were at LaJoy Restaurant which was across the street from the business on North Avenue.  Several anniversary parties were at Alliotos Restaurant, but most parties were right at the shop.  The three brothers always had good entertainment planned.  David was in charge of the food.  Good times were had by all.

The next generation take over

Clarence and I worked at the shop till the end of the century.  In 2000 Clarence had heart by-pass surgery.  He never got back on his feet again.  The same day in June when he was moved to the nursing home the boys were in the process of moving again, this time to 124^th and Custer in Butler.  They needed more space.  Clarence and I never worked at that location.  In 2008 it was 60 years since Kremer Letter Service was started.  It was only by the grace of God that good things happened, for which we thank the Lord.

As always, Please contact our Customer Service for any help with ordering or for any questions.