Leona M. (Meinert) Kraemer

Leona Kraemer, age 92 of Glenwood, died peacefully at home at Glenwood Estates under the care of her family and hospice on November 15, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A private family inurnment will be at Our Lady of the Runestone Cemetery in Kensington. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Leona Marie Kraemer was born October 11, 1932 in DeGraff, Minnesota, the daughter of Fred and Gertrude Meinert. She grew up on the family farm between Benson and DeGraff where she attended country school and graduated from Benson High School.

Leona was united in marriage to Othmar Kraemer on October 3, 1951, at St. Bridgett’s Catholic Church in DeGraff.  They lived in Saint Paul Park until the call to farm, had them moving to rural Cyrus/Farwell. They belonged to Our Lady of the Runestone Catholic church in Kensington where Leona was a member of the Lady’s Guild. After her kids were older, she worked at Oakdale Turkey farm which she thoroughly enjoyed. Leona made loaves and loaves of bread, that her nine children loved warm out of the oven, slathered with butter. She was the cook and babysitter at the farm deer camp so her family could go hunting. For enjoyment Leona and Othmar would go dancing at Lakeside Ballroom, take the penny and nickel jar and head to the casino and play cards with friends and relatives. Leona also loved fishing and growing flowers.

She is survived by her nine children: daughters, Jaculin (Brian) Gasser of Camden, ME, Elizabeth (Robert) Boogaard of Osakis, MN, Rose Ann (Richard) Stemwedel of Florence, SD.; sons, Patrick (Kathy) Kraemer of McHenry, ND, Glen (Elaine) Kraemer of Gull Lake MN, Daniel Kraemer of Watertown, SD, Kenneth Kraemer of Farwell, MN, Timothy Kraemer of West Palm Beach Fl, and Jerry (Megan) Kraemer of Alexandria, MN, 24 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren: nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Leona is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Othmar; parents, Fred and Gertrude Meinert, grandson Gary Suter; her sister Nellie Hood and brothers, Walt and Alvin Meinert.

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