Martha Jane (Kramer) Demmer 1923-2014

DEMMER, KRAMER, RIES, LANSING, OBERBROECKLING, FISH, BROWN, ABRESCH, JAEGER

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/11/2015 at 18:06:41

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, April 23, 2014

FARLEY, Iowa - Martha Jane Demmer, 90, of Farley, died Sunday, April 20, 2014, at 11:03 p.m. at Dubuque Nursing and Rehab in Dubuque.

Friends and relatives of Martha Jane may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, where a wake service will be held at 1:30 p.m., a Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m., and the Farley Volunteer Fire Department will meet in a body at 7 p.m. Services for Martha Jane will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley, with the Rev. Michael Schueller presiding. Burial will be held in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Farley.

Martha Jane was born July 28, 1923, in Farley, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Oberbroeckling) Kramer. She received her education in the Farley area schools.

On Sept. 26, 1945, she was united in marriage to Charles A. Demmer at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley. The couple farmed in the rural Farley area. He preceded her in death on Oct. 8, 1961. She continued to farm until 1974.

Martha Jane was employed at the Western Dubuque Schools food service department for 23 years. During this time, she also catered many funerals and weddings. She was a cook for many years at the 4-H building at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds. For over 20 years, she cared for the altar linens for St. Joseph's Parish.

She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spending any free time playing cards with her friends.

Martha Jane was a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Farley and a member of the Farley Catholic Daughters of the Americas-Presentation Court 1460.

She is survived by six children, Sr. Cheryl Demmer, P.B.V.M., of Muscatine, Gerry Demmer (special friend, Kay Thormann), of Cuba City, Wis., Sr. Donna Demmer, P.B.V.M., of Dubuque, John (Janet) Demmer, Loras "Stix" (Donna) Demmer and Charlie (Michele) Demmer, all of Farley; 15 grandchildren, Heather (John) Fish, Heidi (Justin) Brown, Chad (Robin) Demmer, Kristi (Dave) Abresch, Josh (Lisa) Demmer, Joe (Melissa) Demmer, Kayla Demmer (fiance, R.J. Simon), Katie (Justin) Funk, Kerry Demmer (special friend, Jeremy), Lindsey and Stacy Demmer, Jamie Demmer (special friend, Matt), Ted (Tricia) Demmer, Jennifer (Ryan) White and Mariah Demmer (special friend, Dylan); 15 great-grandchildren, Adley, Keryn, Bryana, Myranda, Tyler, Caden, Addison, Tyler, Julieann, Bella, Rory, Brooklyn, Gabbie, Sophia and Harrison; a sister, Arlene Jaeger, of Dyersville; two sisters-in-law, Marguerite Kramer, of Lamont, and Mae Kramer, of Dyersville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Cory Demmer; six brothers, Ray, Leonard, Clarence, Joe, Laverne and Herbert; and five sisters, Evelyn Winter, Mercedes Ries, Bernice Lansing, Marcella Kramer and Lorraine Kramer.

A Martha Jane Demmer Memorial Fund has been established in lieu of flowers.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at Dubuque Retirement Community, Dubuque Nursing & Rehab, Hospice of Dubuque and Servant Caring of St. Joseph's Parish-Farley.