Leonard Kramer, formerly of Milan, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Health East: The Pillars Hospice Home in Oakdale, MN at the age of 90.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan. Rev. Kristine Isder will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 23 from 5-7:00 PM at the Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service at 6:00 PM. There will also be visitation at the church for one hour before the funeral.
Leonard was born on August 17, 1925 to Herman and Nora (Birkeland) Kramer on a farm near Maynard, MN. He had one sister, Lorraine. In 1935 the family moved to Baxter, MN and from there moved to the Hugh Doyle Farm northwest of Danvers, MN in 1938. The family also lived near Starbuck, Clara City and finally to Milan in 1943. Leonard attended Milan High School but graduated from Clara City High School in 1943. He then farmed with his father during and after WW II.
Leonard was united in marriage in 1952 to Mavis Haaland of Clarkfield, MN. They had three children, Kris, Karsten and Kari. Mavis died in 1963 and Leonard’s mother and father helped raise the children along with housekeepers. In August 1971 Leonard married Riet Van Piggelen, a Dutch woman who was introduced to Leonard by a cousin. In October 1999 Riet was hospitalized with a stroke. After much rehab and devoted care by her family she moved to Rice Care Center and then to Clara City Care Center. Riet died in 2004.
Leonard was a member of Kviteseid church boards, was Farm Bureau President, a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Army National Guard. He lived on the farm until October 2014 when he moved to Brookside Manor in Montevideo and then eventually in August of 2015 to Maplewood, MN.
Leonard is survived by his children: Kris (Alicia) of Columbus, IN, Karsten (Barbara) of Dillon, MT, and Kari (Gary) Reimers of Centerville, MN; grandchildren: Sina, Aaron, Courtney, Jessica, Claire Ann, James, Rochelle, and Stephanie; great-grandchildren: Meghan, Nicolas and Emma Grace; and many other extended family and friends.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Mavis in 1963 and second wife, Riet in 2004; a sister: Lorraine; and other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to
The Pillars HealthEast Hospice
6025 Upper 35th St. N.
Oakdale, MN 55128