Obituary of Neil J. Kramer

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Neil J. Kramer, 61, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024, at his home.

Visitation will be held from 2 - 6 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa.  

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna with burial in St. Peter & Paul Cemetery.  Rev. Chris Podhajsky will officiate.

There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Neil was born on November 20, 1962, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Gerald and Velma (Hullermann) Kramer.  

He married Ellen Kruse on May 29, 1994.  Together they farmed and raised their family just north of Dyersville.

Neil was raised on the same family farm he bought in 1991. He farmed his entire life, offering a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Neil cared deeply about farming. He was a steward of the land and loved working with all of his livestock. In recent years, he enjoyed tinkering in his shop, fixing farm equipment and restoring tractors. He was an excellent farmer but an even better person. He was a loving husband and father, and the best Papa to his grandkids. Neil will be remembered for his laugh, his smile, and the joy he brought to everyone around him. May he inspire everyone who knew him to live a life filled with laughter, surrounded by all the people we hold near and dear to us.  

Survivors include his wife, Ellen, children: Beth Mescher, Brian (Andrea) Kluesner, Craig (Amy) Kluesner, Keith (Danielle) Kluesner, Jenna (Nick) Freerks; grandchildren: Alexis and Grace Mescher, Leo and Ivy Kluesner, Vivian and Boone Kluesner; siblings: Jan (Ed) Day, Lynn (Steve) Galvin, Caril (Bruce) Clasen, Ellen (Jim) Funcke, Lee Ann (Mike) Gentry, Reyne (Don) Koopmann, Dean (Deb) Kramer, Phil (Jess) Kramer;

in-laws: Barb (Marty) Pape, Sharon (Kerry) Ungs, Phyllis (Dave) Blech, Amy Kruse, Jill (Paul) Manternach, Lisa (Mike) Krapfl, Rob (Karla) Kruse, Dale Lenz, Bill Murray; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, John in 2010, parents-in-law, John and Donna Kruse, and a sister, Joyce Kramer. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred as the family will establish a scholarship in Neil’s honor.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12^th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040.