Jerome Joe Kraemer, 83, died on Thursday, November 15, 2007 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, November 19, 2007 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Monsignor Timothy McGee presiding. Burial will be in St. Bernards Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 18, at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 5:00 P.M. Prayer Service on Sunday evening and also at the church for one hour prior to the service on Monday.

Jerome Joe G. Kraemer was born on June 21, 1924 at home the son of Fred and Mary (Beste) Kraemer. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith and attended St. Bernards Catholic School and Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. Because his brother became ill, Joe left school to farm with his brother and father. Later, Joe worked as a beekeeper and traveled through the southern United States transporting bees.

In 1945, he entered into the United States Army and served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He served in Austria during the WW II reconstruction. He received his Honorable Discharge in 1947. Joe returned home to Thief River Falls, purchased the family farm, and worked for Nash Finch. He was united in marriage to Lenore Hanson on August 25, 1950 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. Joe worked for Midland Co-op in Thief River Falls for 30 years, delivering fuel and propane. He was also a farmer his entire life, retiring in the early 1980s.

Joes focus was providing for his family and instilling Christian values. He was devout about his religion believing strongly in the power of prayer. Gardening was a passion for Joe. He shared produce and products with his family and friends. It was fitting that Joe spent much of his life gardening, as his mother had planted squash seeds on the day he was born. Joe was proud of his sauerkraut, salsa, and canned tomatoes. He was very creative in changing broken things to something useful. He collected and kept everything. He was a gifted man that could fix anything and enjoyed making clever gadgets and funny toys. Joe also had bees and extracted honey. He enjoyed cards and reading, mostly non-fiction, and visiting with his friends. He liked to contribute to charities and sponsor children in need. Joe enjoyed discussing current events and had a passion about politics. Joe was an opinionated man with strong convictions. His happiest times were when his wife and children were young and healthy.

Joe was a member of St. Bernards Catholic Church, National Catholic Order of Foresters, V.F.W., and had served on St. Bernards Cemetery Board and the Parish Council.

Joe is survived by his wife, Lenore; three children: Carol (Gale) Schmitz of Thief River Falls, MN, Gregory (Cynthia) Kraemer of Hutchinson, MN and David Kraemer of Lakeville, MA; four grandchildren: Benjamin Schmitz, Laura Schmitz, Anna Kraemer and Erin Kraemer; and one brother, Robert (Anne) Kraemer of Thief River Falls, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Lee; and two brothers: Al and Matt.
Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com