Geraldine “Gerry” (Steinlage) Kramer, 85, died November 27, 2019 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca. She had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

Gerry was born May 16, 1934 on a farm south of Kelly, KS the sixth child of Ferdinand and Dora (Haverkamp) Steinlage. She graduated from St. Bede’s High School in 1952. After graduation she worked on the family farm until she married Daniel Kramer at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly on August 21, 1956. Gerry and Danny moved to their farm south of Corning, KS where they raised their six children.   Gerry resided on her farm until her death.

Gerry was a stay-at-home mom and farmer until her youngest daughter started kindergarten. Her work off the farm included Corning Grade School, as the school secretary and helping in the lunch room; the Dress Factory in Onaga; baby-sitting; and SKF in Seneca, from where she retired in 2001. After retirement she worked part-time at the Corn Crib and the Corning City Library. Her volunteer work included St. Patrick’s Church Altar Society and serving as the parish bookkeeper, American Legion Auxiliary, and she worked on many Nemaha County election boards, most recently in 2018.

Gerry’s hobbies included gardening and crocheting. She loved the anticipation of each new gardening season, nurturing her plants, exchanging stories of her successes and failures with her fellow gardeners, and enjoying and sharing her harvest until the next growing season began. Gerry crocheted many keepsakes for her family, friends and for fundraisers; allowing her to share her talent with many. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept Gerry young at heart. She loved making them her special cinnamon rolls, teaching them about gardening, and attending their sporting events and musical performances. Gerry’s front porch, always a gathering place for her family, was a peaceful place for her to enjoy the view and sounds of her neighborhood.

Gerry is survived by her six children and their spouses: Karen (Tom) Niehues, Linda (Mike) Schmitz, Julie (Rod) Suther, Brenda Kramer, Rick (Kris) Kramer, and Lori (Dave) Sudbeck, 18 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren (with two on the way), sister Melita Bodensteiner, brothers Norbert Steinlage and Elton Steinlage, many loving nieces and nephews and cousins

Gerry was preceded in death by her husband, Danny, her parents, sisters Alma Kramer and Lorena Olberding and brothers Francis Steinlage and Ron Steinlage.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 PM on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, KS. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, December 2, 2019 at St. Patrick’s Church, Corning, KS with burial following at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Corning City Library, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and send in care of the family.