Darlene M. (Elgin) Kramer, 1940-2014

KRAMER, ELGIN, HESS, KRUSE, GIBBS, LUDWIG, CONNELLY, LINK

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/24/2015 at 22:29:38

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, October 8, 2014

DYERSVILLE, Iowa - Darlene M. Kramer, 74, of Dyersville, Iowa and formerly of Farley, Iowa, died Monday, October 6, 2014, at 6:49 a.m. at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade, Iowa, surrounded by her family.

Friends and relatives of Darlene may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, Iowa, where a wake service will be held at 2:00 p.m. and the Farley Fire Department will meet in a body at 6:30 p.m.

Services for Darlene will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 9, 2014 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa, with Rev. John Haugen Presiding. Burial will be held in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Farley, Iowa.

Darlene was born June 3, 1940, in Bankston, Iowa, daughter of Nick and Stella V. (Hess) Elgin. She attended St. Clements School and St. Joseph High School. On May 3, 1961, she was united in marriage to Ralph Kramer at St. Clement's Catholic Church.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Parish and formerly of St. Clements Parish. Darlene was also a member of the Farley Garden Club.

She will be remembered for her passion for cooking, her enjoyment of camping with family and friends, her competitiveness to win a game of Euchre and the love she had for her husband, five sons and family.

She is survived by her husband, Ralph Kramer, of Dyersville, IA; five sons, Randy (Rhonda) Kramer, Dennis (Dana) Kramer, Pat (Deb) Kramer, Todd (Kristi) Kramer and Rodney Kramer, all of Farley, IA; daughter-in-law, Jolene Kramer, of Farley, IA; 12 grandchildren, Russell (Marlee) Kramer, Ryan Kramer (& special friend Laura Faber), Austin Kramer (special friend, Katelyne Domeyer), Carter Kramer, Sarah (Robby) Michels, Katie Kramer (& special friend Chris Smock), Nick Kramer (& special friend Natalie Fischer), Collin Kramer, Tanner Kramer, Grant Kramer, Lauren Kramer, and Grace Kramer; 2 great-grandchildren, Rae Lynn Kramer and Ethan Michels; 7 sisters, Dorothy Elgin, of Dubuque, IA, Rosemary Kruse, of Bankston, IA, Lou Ann Deutmeyer, of Dyersville, IA, Sharon (Tom) Ludwig, of Dyersville, IA, Betty (Dave) Ludwig, of Worthington, IA, Linda Elgin, of Dubuque, IA, and Madonna (Dan) Gibbs, of Holy Cross, IA, 4 brothers, Robert (Gladys) Elgin, of Bankston, IA, Donald (Mae) Elgin, of Worthington, Willis (Dorothy) Elgin, of Delhi, IA, and Marvin Elgin, of Bankston, IA; brother and sisters-in-law, Vince Ehrlich, of Dubuque, IA, John (Lavonne) Ludwig, of Anamosa, IA, Lynn (Ronnie) Connelly, of Dubuque, IA and Judy (Dick) Link, of Farley, IA.

She is preceded in death by her parents; mother and father-in-law, Alvin and Lucinda Kramer; two sisters, Grace Davis and Dianne Ehrlich; one brother, James Elgin; one nephew, Kerry Kruse; one niece, Colleen Drees; 5 brothers-in-law, Dan Kruse, Larry Davis, Bill Deutmeyer, Eugene Kramer and Roger Kramer; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Elgin and Lois "Loie" Kramer; and a nephew, Jim Davis.

A Memorial Fund has been established in memory of Darlene M. Kramer.

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

A special thank you to the staff at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade and Hospice of Dubuque for the gracious loving care given to Darlene.