Alma M. Kramer, 93, of Kelly, Kansas died on April 1, 2019 at Crestview Nursing and Residential Living in Seneca.

Alma was born on November 18, 1925, on a farm south of Kelly to Ferdinand and Dora Haverkamp Steinlage.

Alma grew up south of Kelly and attended School in Kelly; graduating and from St. Bede’s Catholic High School in 1943. After graduating high school, she went to Iowa for few years and was employed as a mid-wife, before returning home to help the neighbors their children and child births.

On June 8 1948, she was united in marriage to Callistus Jacob Kramer at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly, Kansas.  Together they made their home and raised their family on a farm just south of Kelly.

Alma was an active member of the St Bede’s Alter Society.  As a farm wife Alma took care of many daily chores around the farm.  She enjoyed taking care of orphaned calves, many litters of pigs, a flock of chickens and most of all, her six children: Marilyn, Don, Alan, Rose, Bob, and Deann.

Alma’s favorite season was spring and each year she spent countless hours tending her large garden and strawberry patch by the road. She had a green thumb when it came to plants, tree, and flowers.  There was never a visit through spring and summer that you didn’t leave with whatever was being harvested in the garden at the time.  In the fall, you didn’t leave without canned goods.  Alma’s garden never seemed to be a chore, it was what she enjoyed and shared with all. All the grand children had a favorite pie and it was not an unusual visit to grandmas to find that favorite pie on the counter or readily pulled from the freezer.

Most of all, she loved her family and had the blessing to see her six children grow, her 14 grandchildren be born, and 20 great grandchildren join the family.  She loved her church and fittingly enough for Alma Kramer the circle of life was completed from birth to death in this church and on this hill overlooking the world in which she grew up. This was her home and this is where she lived a full life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cal, on November 3, 1995; a son, Don on March 16, 2014; two son-in-laws, Max Sudbeck on July 8, 2003 and Galen Lackey on December 12, 2012; two grandsons, Jacob on February 19, 1996 and David Lackey on October 3, 2003; by a sister, Lorena Olberding on September 10, 1998; and two brothers, Francis Steinlage on January 15, 2004 and Ronald Steinlage on April 12, 2015.

Alma is survived by her children, Marilyn Lackey of Seneca, Alan Kramer of Goff, Rose Sudbeck of Hiawatha, Bob Kramer of Goff and Deann (Bill) Shields from Colby; her brothers, Norbert and Elton Steinlage both of Kelly; and two sisters, Melita Bodensteiner of Waucoma, IA and Geraldine Kramer of Corning.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, April 4, 2019 at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly.   Burial in the church cemetery.

Memorials are to be to be designated at a later date, and sent in care of the family.
To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .