Patricia Anne Kramer

Patricia Anne Kramer (Zimmerman), 90.

Pat passed away on 4/11/15. She was preceded in death by parents Ed & Anne Zimmerman, brothers Bruce, Tony, Allen, and John Zimmerman, sister Barbara Wagner, husband John (Jack) Kramer, and son Thomas Kramer. She is survived by brother David (Mary Lou) Zimmerman, sons Steve (Judy) Kramer, Brian (Maryann) Kramer, Jim (Theresa) Kramer, Kevin Kramer, Paul (Faye) Kramer, daughters Susan (Steve) Bremkamp, Mary (Bruce) Maendel, Loretta (Dan) Brown, Barb (Dave) Bodemer, Rose Kienzle, 23 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Pat was born and raised in Canton OH, graduating from Mt. Marie Academy in 1942 and the Mercy School of Nursing in 1947. She and Jack married in 1948 and moved their expanding family to an old 10-room farmhouse on 85 acres just west of Brewster in 1958.

Adapting to country life, Pat tirelessly maintained large gardens to keep the pantry stocked with canned vegetables throughout the year. She also helped with raising pigs, cows, and chickens to keep the freezers stocked with meat. A wonderful cook, she was adept at preparing large portions of food at a moment's notice which she learned to time in shifts so as to accommodate multiple school and work schedules. Her sweet cinnamon rolls with maple icing were a favorite on Sunday mornings. Besides cooking, she also put her nursing skills to good use caring for the many cuts, scrapes, rashes, sprains, and broken bones that come with having 11 energetic children.

Pat's life was centered on her love and devotion to Jesus Christ and she exemplified what it meant to lead a selfless life. In addition to her own 11 kids, she fostered children from the county and also hosted inner-city children from Cleveland in the summer. After the kids were of school age, Pat went back to work at the County Lawn Nursing Home in Navarre where she cared for the elderly.

Pat was an active member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Brewster and Catholic Cursillo Movement in Canton where she and Jack made many lifelong friends. They enjoyed hosting holiday get-togethers, cookouts, and weekend camp-outs down by the lake on the farm. Pat also had a love for music and a beautiful voice. She played the piano and often sang at Mass as well as for weddings and did a few local radio commercials.

Once the kids were grown, Pat and Jack often took off for long road trips to multiple destinations from east coast to west coast but their favorite vacation was spending time relaxing at Lakeside on Lake Erie. After Jack's death in 1989, Pat travelled internationally on a series of medical and Christian mission trips to multiple countries including Burundi, Guatemala, China, Russia, and Israel.

One of the greatest joys in Pat's life was her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept her
busy. She loved nothing better than spending time with them whether it was singing show tunes with them, cooking with them, attending their plays, or just sitting and holding the babies in her lap.

Calling hours will be at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Road, Akron, OH, Tuesday, 4/14/15 from 5-8 PM. Funeral service will be Wednesday 10:30 AM with visitation an hour prior at Northwest Church, 737 Northwest Avenue, in Tallmadge. A separate graveside service will be held later Wednesday that afternoon at 2:30 PM at Calvary Cemetery at 3469 Lincoln Way East in Massillon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Haven of Rest Ministries, 175 E Market St, Akron, OH 44308.