Krutmeier Scholarship Fund

 

Robert (Bob) graduated from Quincy High School in 1942 and later enlisted in the Navy. He completed aviation mechanic school in Oklahoma and was then stationed in Florida and Virginia. After his discharge from the Navy he began work at Electric Wheel/Firestone. Bob’s wife, Betty, served at PTA president and worked as a secretary for more than 20 years at Payson Seymour Elementary School. Bob went on to serve as mayor of Payson, Illinois for many years and even took on a side-hobby of flying. But, his favorite career came after retirement when he began farming in Payson, Illinois with his son, Rodney. 

 

“My grandpa, Bob, and my dad, Rodney, worked together in a factory and decided to transition into a partnership together to start a business in farming. That was their passion,” said Lisa Krutmeier, Rodney’s daughter. “They spent countless hours in the field farming corn and soybeans, as well as sheep, cattle, goats, chickens, etc. That’s where they were happy.”

 

The Krutmeier family became such a staple in the community, that when Rodney passed away in 1997 farmers throughout Payson came together to help Bob with the remaining harvest that year. 

 

“One day, combines just started showing up at my mom’s house,” said Julie (Krutmeier) Danker, Rodney’s daughter. “Fellow farmers gave their time to help my family when we were at a real low point. We had, and still have, so much generosity in our community.”

 

Following Bob’s passing in 2020, the Krutmeier family came together to start the Krutmeier Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation to assist a Payson High School graduate in pursuing an agriculture-related field. The fund was established through the estate of Bob Krutmeier by his daughter, Carlene Kemmis, daughter-in-law, Sue Maple, and granddaughters, Julie Danker and Lisa Krutmeier. 

 

“Knowing that farming and the community are (still) part of their legacy is (still) making them both smile right now because that’s who they were at their core,” said Carlene.