Bob Kramer ID’d as victim of fire that destroyed his legendary St. Louis puppet theater
Bob Kramer has been identified as the person who died in the fire that destroyed his home and legendary puppet theater in the Central West End this month, according to media reports.
The St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday identified Kramer as the victim of the fire at Bob Kramer’s Marionnettes theater from Jan. 20, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KSDK Channel 5 reported.
Fire department spokesman Capt. Garon Mosby told the TV station that firefighters went into the fully engulfed, two-story brick building to look for two people believed to be inside before being evacuated due to dangerous and rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Mosby said firefighters rescued one man, Dug Feltch, who was treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital. Feltch was Kramer’s partner for decades. They lived on the building’s second floor.
Kramer and Feltch were upstairs watching TV when they smelled what they thought was a barbecue, according to neighbor Harold Karabell, who talked to Feltch after he was rescued. Then the building erupted in flames.
Karabell organized a GoFundMe campaign for Feltch. As of Saturday afternoon, it had raised more than $60,000 of its $100,000 goal.
“For more than 50 years, Kramer’s Marionnettes has been a beloved institution in the City of St. Louis and an internationally-known cultural treasure,” the campaign page states.
“Co-Owner and Master Puppeteer Dug Feltch lost absolutely everything in a horrific fire on Friday evening, January 20. Dug is the longtime beloved vice president of the West Pine-Laclede Neighborhood Association. The association wants to assist him to the maximum extent possible.”
Kramer’s family told the Post-Dispatch that details about a celebration of his life would be posted on the Facebook page for Bob Kramer’s Marionettes when plans are finalized.
