Kramer’s pink truck makes special tribute, gains national attention

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - A local tow truck is getting national recognition for its unique design.

The pink tow truck from Kramer’s Auto & Iron graced the front cover of the November edition of Tow Times Magazine and was named the 2022 “Shine ‘n Star” grand prize winner.

The truck is a tribute to Michelle Stevenson, the wife of Robert “Woody” Stevenson, a Kramer’s employee. Michelle defeated breast cancer twice in a six-year time frame. Both times she found out she had breast cancer, was her birthday.

“I was very upset,” said Michelle Stevenson. “I was in tears, and you know because I was afraid, I wasn’t going to see my family anymore.”

Michelle’s first encounter with breast cancer was at the age of 40. Today, she has been cancer free for three years and has a truck to remind her of the journey.

“The steering wheel is pink, and the door and the top has some ribbons on it, and my birth date,” said Michelle.

She said she was happy that she won because she had to endure a lot.

“I felt happy after I knew I won,” said Michelle. “I had a whole bunch of radiation is done and surgeries. I was just glad that I beat it.”

Michelle went through 27 weeks of radiation and had a lot of burning from her treatments. Luckily, both times she was able to catch the cancer early.

“It was ok, I don’t know,” said Michelle. “But I got lots of burning. So, a lot of blisters and stuff. It wasn’t really fun. I at least beat it and that’s all I wanted.”

She said being able to see her family motivated her to get through her battles with breast cancer.