Bruce Kramer, the former dean of the College of Education at the University of St. Thomas who wrote about his life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), died Monday of complications of the disease, the university said on its website. He was 59.

His death, at his home in Hopkins, comes days before the publication of his memoir, "We Know How This Ends," written with Cathy Wurzer, by the University of Minnesota Press.

Kramer was diagnosed with ALS in 2010 and remained as dean until taking a leave of absence in 2012. He documented his fight with the disease on a personal blog and in a series of reports by Minnesota Public Radio.

He joined the faculty at St. Thomas in 1996 and became dean of the College of Education, then called the College of Applied Professional Studies, in 2009.

The St. Thomas announcement said that a memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. April 11 at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Road, Edina.

A book launch event planned for Wednesday at St. Thomas will go on as planned, the school said.

STAFF REPORT