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Ramona Schramm, 94, of Early died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 at her home.
Funeral Mass will take place Thursday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 5-7 p.m. followed by a Prayer Vigil and Rosary at 7 p.m., all at the church. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Ramona “Monie” was born March 8, 1929 in Early, to Albert and Kathryn (Lange) Gard. As an infant she was baptized and later confirmed and married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she worshipped faithfully her entire life.
Ramona was educated in a country school from first through third grades (there was no kindergarten at that time), before attending fourth through seventh grades at Sacred Heart Elementary School. She transitioned to Early High as an eighth grader and graduated from there in 1946. She attended Commercial Extension in Omaha focusing on secretarial skills. After completion of the one year program, she returned to Early where in 1948 she married her high school sweetheart, Jerome Schramm. The couple was blessed with five children: Karen, Joyce, Gary, Mary Jo and Jean.
Volunteering came second nature. Ramona was a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Guild and an active member of the adult choir. She shared her beautiful soprano voice with that group for many years. ‘Monie’ also gave years of service to the Catholic Daughters of America along with supporting educators as an aide at the elementary school. She willingly shared her skills and knowledge of sewing, baking/cooking and home furnishing with many 4-Hers over the years. As their children grew and the older ones left the nest, they opened their hearts and home to three foreign exchange students attending St Mary’s High School between the years of 1971 to 1976. She also spearheaded getting Bingo up and running for Sacred Heart and organizing Euchre gatherings at the Legion for the community.
Gardening, fishing, playing cards (nearly every day), golfing (into her 80s), bowling, jigsaw puzzles, throwing celebration parties like the annual New Year’s Eve bash and 4th of July celebration as well as spending time with family provided her enjoyment. Their horizons were broadened as they took advantage of travel opportunities. Eating popcorn while watching western movies and playing Yahtzee filled her hours in later years.
Those who will dearly miss her include her children: Karen, Joyce, Gary and Jean; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and extended family and friends.
When her heart could beat no longer, her soul took flight to join those who had preceded her in death. These include her husband Jerome (2020); daughter Mary Jo Dellwo (2021): parents Albert and Kathryn Gard: brother Kenneth Gard: brother-in-law Frank (Bill) Nielsen: sister-in-law Mary Ann Gard: son-in-law Ray Cusick: parents-in-law Gustov and Gertrude Schramm: brothers-in-law: Robert and Donald Schramm, Joseph Determan: sisters-in-law: Betty Lou Schramm, Delores Determan and Ruth Schramm; and nieces and nephews: Bob Nielsen, John Determan and Diane Klocke.
