Madonna Kramer, 85, of Milford, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at her home in Milford, surrounded by her family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford, IA. A Rosary service will take place at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, followed by a visitation till 7:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place in the Calvary Cemetery in Milford, IA. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Madonna Mary Kramer was born on December 16, 1939, in Algona, IA, to Milton and Viola (Schiltz) Marlow. She was raised on the family farm at Lone Rock, attending country school from kindergarten through third grade, then Lone Rock Public School from fourth through twelfth grade, graduating in 1957. She earned her degree in business from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines in 1958. Madonna was united in marriage to Bernard “Bernie” Kramer on September 12, 1959, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Bancroft, IA. She was first employed as a secretary for Dekalb Seed Company in Humboldt, IA, while living in Algona. She and her husband operated Bernie’s Tavern in Fenton, IA, before moving to Mason City, IA, and Kirksville, MO, and then back to her childhood farm in Lone Rock, where they resided for 30 years. She worked as a Teacher’s Aide for Exceptional Opportunities in Burt, IA, for 10 years and helped on the farm. Later they retired to Spirit Lake, IA, and wintered in Alamo, TX, for 24 years before moving to Milford in 2022.
Madonna had a passion for music. She played piano weekly at area nursing homes, sang in church choirs in Algona and Alamo, was an avid line dancer, and enjoyed dancing at weekly live performances in their Alamo community. She also enjoyed swimming and reading. She participated in Pro-Life activities and taught religious education classes in Texas. She loved and enjoyed all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including singing, dancing, and playing piano with them.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Bernie Kramer of Milford, IA; children, Shelly Kramer of Spirit Lake, IA; Brenda (John) Thorn of Jackson, MN; and Todd (Jill) Kramer of Spencer, IA; seven grandchildren, Michael (Andrea) Thorn, David (Dusti) Thorn, Christine (Reed) Fischer, Thomas (Amanda) Thorn, Nicole (Joe) Jackson, Kari (Miles) Taylor, and Kelli Kramer; eleven great-grandchildren (including one expected in February); and her sister Gail (Ed) Ulrick of Payson, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dennis Marlow in infancy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Madonna’s favorite charity. Father Jack Kurps, Sacred Heart Southern Missions, PO Box 300, Walls, Mississippi, 38680-0300.
