Alan Kratzer, 81, passed away peacefully in Lake Charles
on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, after a long illness. Alan was born on June 7, 1940, to the late Helen Bertrand and Henry Kratzer. He was a native of Roanoke and a resident of Lake Charles.

As a youth he cared for his grandmother
and became fluent in French which he would speak whenever he had the opportunity.

A graduate of USL in Business, he began his career as a buyer for Muller’s Department Store and The Fair Stores. Alan owned and operated The Bud
‘n Blossom Shop, Wholesale Florist Co LLC, and the Cottage Restaurant and owned the Minor Mart Children’s Shop.

As Executive Director of the Lake Charles Regional Airport for 22 years he implemented the name change from Lake
Charles Municipal Airport allowing the SWLA region to be recognized as the hub for air travel. His most notable contributions to the air service community occurred in 2005 after Hurricane Rita destroyed the passenger terminal and hangars at the
airport. He led the airport community in working to resume air service in 10 days with a temporary passenger terminal in the fire station. Military helicopter operations and general aviation and military relief flights resumed within two days.
Because of his tenacity and refusal to take no for an answer regarding FAA funding, the new $28 million passenger terminal building became a reality and a true showplace for SWLA.

Alan served as the President of the SWLA
Florist Association, President of the Louisiana Airport Managers Association (LAMA), was a charter member of South Lake Charles Kiwanis Club and a member of the SWLA Transportation Committee and the Krewe of Contraband.

One of
Alan’s greatest joys was to be with family. At homes at Big Lake and Johnson Bayou he entertained and cooked for family and friends. He gathered family together for holidays, pulling out all the stops for Christmas preparing with elaborate
decorations and delicious meals. He never forgot birthdays which were a time for celebration and generosity.

Alan had an interest in genealogy and became the historian for the Kratzers and Bertrands, planning get togethers for
his “cousins”. He had a photographic memory and a vast knowledge of local history, people, and events. His interests were cooking, gardening, watching baseball and spending time at the beach.

Those left to cherish his memory
are his daughters, Susan Kratzer Blue (Greg) and Anne Marie Kratzer of Lake Charles; brothers Ronald M. Kratzer of Rabun Gap, Ga.; and Gary D. Kratzer (Sheila) of Sulphur; grandchildren Lydia and Sarah Blue and great grandson Elijah Blue; and mother
of his children Carol St. Dizier; three nephews and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by this parents Helen and Henry Kratzer and grandparents Lorena and Martin Kratzer and Melonie and Ophelian Bertrand.

Visitation for Mr. Kratzer will be at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Monday, June 21, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will reopen on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 11 a.m. until the time of the services. A Liturgy of the Word will be held at
1:00PM in the funeral home and burial immediately following in the Liberty Cemetery in Elton, La.

Our father received the ultimate in professional and loving care during his last months from Tammy Sanders and Josephine Ceasar.
We wish to thank them from the heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Kratzer family may be shared at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com