Shirley M. Kramer

PORTAGE  --  Shirley M. Kramer, age 75, of Portage, passed away on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at her home.

Shirley was born on September 4, 1939 in Shiocton, Wisconsin, the daughter of Julius and Mabel (Thayer) Schoerning.  She had worked at WPDR / WDDC radio stations, at Learning Tree Day Care during the 1990’s, and retired from Headstart.  Shirley’s passion was flower gardening.  She enjoyed sharing her perennials and giving them to any and all.  Shirley was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her children, Debra Schwartz, Port Edwards, Douglas (Sharon) Kramer, Morgantown, WV, and Carolyn (Jeff) Hamre, Portage;  her grandchildren, Brent (Kim) Schwartz, Wausau, Ben Schwartz, Madison, Caitlyn Tilley, Portage, and Haley Kramer, West Virginia;  a great-grandchild expected in January;  her brothers and sisters, Louis Schoerning, Phyllis Neubauer, Peggy Schoerning, Barb (Joe) Recker, Linda (Fred) Marcks, Julius (Kay) Schoerning, Janice Mieczynski, Ronald Schoerning, Patricia Eisch, and Jane Schoerning;  many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, especially her dear and special friend, JoAnn.  She was preceded in death by her parents, two infant sisters, her sister, Francis Dye, her former husband, Edward Kramer, her brother-in-law, Virgil Neubauer and Alice.

Memorial services will be at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with Home Health United Chaplain, Denise Cole officiating.  Private inurnment will be at a later date in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

The family would like to thank their friend, Lyn and Home Health United Hospice for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army Coat Drive.

Very important to Shirley were these words:  “A person never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.”