In Loving Memory- Kevin Kromer 01/28/1965 - 09/22/2024
Saying Farewell, Until We Meet Again.
After 7 years of being cancer free, November 2023, our founder Kevin Kromer was diagnosed with cancer, once again, but this time it was an aggressive small cell cancer. The first diagnosis of esophageal cancer came in June 2016. After completing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Kevin underwent a very difficult surgery. It took him several weeks to heal and regain his strength, but he recovered fully and was told that he was cancer free. He participated in a one year immunotherapy trial that began in November of that same year. At that time, he and his wife Kelly began the process of fulfilling his mission. They wanted to form a non-profit to raise funds to help the financial needs of others who were battling cancer and to support research for a cure. They succeeded and Mission R.A.C.E.R. was officially and legally registered.
Returning now to the November 2023 diagnosis, Kevin was devastated to learn of his newest battle. This one was a completely different cancer from his first and there was no cure. His first question to the oncologist was, "Will I live to see my son's wedding?" The oncologist asked, " When is the wedding?" Kevin stated, "August". The oncologist responded in a somber voice, "You'll see August". Life for the next several months was a roller coaster of emotions. It was also one chemotherapy treatment after another. When one type of treatment could not contain the cancer, a different one was given. Kevin continued to do all of the things he loved. He spent time with family and friends. He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, went camping in OCMD and traveled with his #77 race car to various states to race in the 2024 season of Grand National Super Series. The series is a traveling racing series for which he competed and loved for 3 years. He didn't miss a race until his cancer spread beyond the liver where it had originally settled itself. In early August he endured excruciating back pain and could no longer travel comfortably to the race tracks. From there he had scans and a short hospital stay. He was told that the cancer spread to his brain, and it had been spreading down his back and hips through the spinal fluid. It was mid-August and he would begin radiation of the brain and spinal area. He had 5 days of radiation. He endured that first week of radiation well and was able to attend his son's wedding. The week following the wedding, he completed 4 more radiation treatments, but began suffering from the side effects and the spreading cancer. He was in and out of the hospital, required 24 hour oxygen and could not tolerate food and very little water. He went home from the hospital. He continued to attempt to do all basic things at home without assistance before he would finally accept help from someone. He continued to show his determination and strength continuously until Sunday, September 22, 2024, when he accepted Heaven's call and he went to be with our Lord.
Thank you to the many who supported Kevin and his family throughout his journey. Thank you also to everyone who honored Kevin by donating in his memory to Mission R.A.C.E.R. Because of you, we could fulfill his mission to help others by making a donation on his behalf. We donated $4077.60 on what would of been his 60th birthday, Jan. 28, 2025. The $77 represented his race car number and the $.60 in recognition of his 60th birthday. Click on the image of Kevin at the top of the page to learn more about the donation we made in January.
Obituary | Kevin K. Kromer | Schisler Funeral Home
