Mildred Kramer

Millie was born October 13, 1925 in Earlville, IA the daughter of Arthur and Minnie (Melchert) Goldsmith. She graduated from the Earlville High School in the Class of 1943 and earned her teaching certificate at the University of Dubuque. Millie began her lifelong passion for teaching at the Plum Creek Country School in the Earlville area. She married Lawrence B. Kramer on June 2, 1947 in Earlville, Iowa. Together they farmed in the Earlville area and began raising their family. Millie and Larry moved to the Hopkinton area in 1951 where she continued her passion for teaching through becoming a Cub Scout Den Mother, teaching religious education and volunteering at the Johnston Elementary School. Millie also worked at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for 20 years as a housekeeper. She is a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church and the Lydia Circle. Surviving are 5 daughters: Dianne (Mariano) Diaz-Miranda of Austin, TX, Mary (Jay) Yanda of Hopkinton, IA, Julie (Al) Coyle, Sheila (Jim) Tjaden and Lori (Ron) Welter all of Monticello, IA; 7 sons: Dale (Wendy) of Baldwin, WI, Dean (Vicki) of Sand Springs, IA, Pat (Norma) Peosta, IA, Dan (Shelley) of Solon, IA, Rick, Keith (Sherry), Kevin (Sue) all of Hopkinton; 29 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; a special friend, John Hackbarth of Cedar Rapids, IA; 4 sisters: Betty (Hank) Ehrlich and Gen (Ray) Olberding, both of Dyersville, IA, Mary (John) Kupferschmidt of Tucson, AZ and Nellie (Bob) Krapfl of New Vienna, IA; 2 brothers-in-law: Clem Kapler of Cresco and Bernie Nefzger of Earlville; 2 sisters-in-law: Mary Kramer and Irene Kramer, both of Manchester, IA. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence on June 7, 2000, 5 brothers, Floyd, George, James, Arthur and Fred Goldsmith; and 2 sisters: Margaret Kapler and Dolores Nefzger. A Mildred Kramer memorial fund has been established for the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars.