Earl Kramer, age 83, of Carroll, died early Saturday morning, January 9, 2016 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Brian Feller. Mass Servers will be Tanner and Tyler Naughton. Music will be by Kate Cuddy and the St. Lawrence Choir. Gift Bearers will be Earl’s granddaughters: Stacey Naughton, Kelsie Sturm, and Hilaeri Kramer. Eucharistic Ministers will be Lynette Lehrter, Lorraine Danner, and Ann Christiansen. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Earl’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. Casket Bearers will be Earl’s grandsons: Jerome Meiers, Chris Kramer, Kamden Kramer, Jeromie Kramer, Joseph Kramer, Michael Kelly, Alexander Kramer, and greeted by his grandson angel, Justin Kramer. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday where visitation will resume until the time of the funeral mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Earl’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on September 20, 1932 at Carroll, Iowa, Earl Charles was the son of Nicholas and Mary (Heller) Kramer. He grew up in Carroll County. After his education Earl farmed with his father. On September 17, 1955 Earl was united in marriage to Dorothy Lehrter at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll.
The couple began their married life on Earl’s family farm north of Coon Rapids where the couple was engaged in grain, livestock, and dairy farming. They then moved to a farm near Scranton where Earl farmed and worked at American Athletic in Jefferson. In 1963 the family moved to Carroll where he attended schooling for appliance repair. After his training he worked as an Appliance Repair Technician for Gambles Hardware Store. After the store closed, Earl worked for the Carroll Co-Op. In 1972 Earl purchased the current family farm near Willey where he resumed his farming operation until 1989, when he and Dorothy started Kramer’s Used Store.
Earl enjoyed playing cards, trapping, fishing, antiques, animals, and his trips to the casino. Most of all Earl enjoyed the time he spent with his family and friends. Earl was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll.
Left to celebrate Earl’s life is his wife of 60 years, Dorothy of Carroll; children: Deb (Roger) Julich of Carroll, Steve ( Linda) Kramer of Boone, Doug (Diane) Kramer of Lake Park, Jim (Terri) Kramer of Carroll, Scott (special friend Sindy) Kramer of Ft. Collins, CO, Bev (Scott) Kelly of Carroll, and Craig (Shari) Kramer of Silverlake, WA; 22 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Al (Lynette) Lehrter of Carroll, Francis Owen of Carroll, Mary Lehrter of Carroll, JoAnn Peterson of Manning, Stella Mohr of Carroll, Shirley Miller of Carroll, and Clair Lehrter of Rockwell City; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law: Henry and Clara Lehrter; a grandson Justin Kramer; a great-granddaughter Claire Kramer; his siblings: Helen (Leo) Roth, Imelda (Erwin) Roth, John (Jeanette) Kramer, Norbert Kramer, and Sylvan Kramer in infancy; Earl was also preceded in death by his brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law: Leona (Ed) Daisy, Henry Lehrter, Jr., Lucille Butler, Richard Lehrter in infancy, Louis Owen, Ivan Peterson, Dale Mohr, and Mick Miller.
