This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: KRAMER Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/734 Message Board Post: LIFE STORY OF - FRANK KRAMER, 67 Frank Joseph Kramer was born to Mary Book and Joseph Kramer at Earling, Iowa, May 28, 1890, and died at his home in Defiance, Iowa, Saturday May 3, 1958, from a heart attack at the age of 67 years, 11 months and five days. He attended school in Earling, and was a member of the Roman Catholic church all his life. September 12, 1916, he was united in marriage to Cecelia Schechinger at Westphalia, Iowa, and to this union seventeen children were born. He spent his life farming in the Shelby county vicinity, and in 1957 they moved to Defiance. He belonged to the Holy Name Society of Defiance and was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Cecelia, seven daughters and four sons: Mrs. Dale Friesen (Irene) of Council Bluffs, Frank, Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., Mrs. Leo Schaben (Lillian) of Earling, Mrs. Verdy Klocke (Rita) of Cascade, Ia., Gerald of Marne, Mrs. Tom Grote (Theresa) of Portsmouth, Mrs. Bill Fuhs (Dolores) of Portsmouth, Mrs. Joe Bissen (Leona) of Dunlap, Emil and Norbert of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Mary Alice of Omaha, Nebr.; three brothers: Joe and Carl of Earling and William of Sioux City; three sisters: Mrs. Henry Schmitz (Mary) of Westphalia, Mrs. Nick Muell (Clara) of Missouri Valley and Mathilda of Earling; 37 grandchildren. Six children, Cecelia, Raymond, James, Lawrence, Anthony and Patricia, preceded him in death. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 6, 1958, at St. Peter's church in Defiance, with Rev. P. J. McStay, officiating, assisted by Rev. John Cunningham and Msgr. Michael Schiltz of Panama. Burial was in St. Peter's cemetery at Defiance. Pallbearers were nephews: Leo Kramer, Elmer Muell, Mark Kramer, Francis Wageman, Leo Henkelman and LeRoy Schmitz.