Obituary of M. Kramer

M. Aletha Kramer, 93, of Dyersville died Sunday, June 24, 2012, at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville. Friends may call from 3:00 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish vigil will be held at 3:30 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2012 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate. Aletha was born December 31, 1918 in Dyersville, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Antoinette (Streit) Flammang. She atteneded Xavier High School and Bayless Business School. She was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper at General Telephone and Telegraph. Aletha married Ambrose G. Kramer on May 14, 1945 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. In 1947, they became partners in her parents' business, Flammang-Kramer Jewelry and Gift Store. She was their accountant until her retirement in 1980. An avid reader, she was on the M. M. Hoffman Library Board for 29 years and served a term on the Dubuque County Library Board. She was also a founding member of the Dyersville Historical Society in 1961 and served as its first secretary-treasureer and later its historian. In 1976, she was honored with a volunteer award from the governor of Iowa. She was also a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the Dyersville Women's Club. She loved to travel. Her interest in genealogy led her to assist Patricia A. Hemingway, sister-in-law of Earnest Hemingway, in documenting that family tree. Survivors include her daughter, Candice (Carl) Bergsneider of Silver Lake, OH, 2 grandsons, Christopher and Alexander Bergsneider; 3 sisters -in-law: Beverly Flammang of Dyersville, Carolyn (Ken) Allen of St. Charles, MO, and Kathryn Lord of Lincolnshire, IL, nephew, Thomas Flammang, niece, Susan M. (Paul) Oberbroeckling, a great-niece and two great nephews. She is also survived by many Kramer nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother James P. Flammang - also a partner in the jewelry business, 3 sisters-in-law: Olivia and Elizabeth (Sister Ann Clare) Kramer, Leona Rubly, 4 brothers-in-law: Gene (L.F.), Alfred, Edwin and Norman Kramer. Special thanks to the staff at Oak Crest Manor for their care and companionship with Aletha.