Francis Jerome Kramer, 77, Minot and formerly of Karlsruhe died on Saturday, August 24, 2013 in his home following a long battle with cancer.

Francis was born on April 22, 1936 in Drake, ND to George and Mary (Schneider) Kramer. He was reared on the family farm near Karlsruhe, attended school in Karlsruhe and graduated from Karlsruhe High School in 1955. As a young adult he assisted on the family farm and sold insurance. Francis entered the U.S. Army on May 5, 1960, served in Company A of the 15th Quartermaster Battalion in Germany and received a Good Conduct Medal prior to his honorable discharge on May 7, 1962. Following his discharge he returned to the Minot area where he was employed in the construction of missile sites, sold encyclopedias and operated a service station.

Francis married Shirley Mattern on October 16, 1965 at Vincent United Methodist Church in Minot. They made their home in Minot where Francis sold insurance and farmed with his father in Karlsruhe Township of McHenry County. A son, Jerome David, became a member of the family on June 22, 1967 and a son Jason Darin was added to the family on January 13, 1974. During the interim, Francis, with the help of the Bischoff family, built a new home on El Rio Drive in Minot in 1969 to accommodate his growing family. Francis purchased the farm from his parents in 1978 and operated the farm, sold insurance and was a seed salesman for Interstate Seed Company until his retirement in 2008. Most recently, he was employed as a combine operator for Spencer Wilson north of Minot. Francis had been battling Lung Cancer for the past 8.5 years.

Francis was a member of the Vincent United Methodist Church, Moose Lodge and Eagles Aerie and a former member of Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Karlsruhe. As a member of the Moose Lodge he held several leadership positions including Governor in 2000-2001 and was a member of the Ritual Team for five years. Francis especially enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, playing pool and restoring antique cars.

Francis' loving family includes his wife of 47 years Shirley; sons: Jerome of Minot and Jason of Fargo; grandson: Tyler; sister: Cecelia Gerhart of Minot; brothers: James (Sandy) Kramer of Franktown, CO and Lee (Carol) Kramer of Centennial, CO and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Wilfred and Bobby.

Celebration of the Life of Francis Kramer: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church - Minot.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of plants and flowers memorials are preferred to the Moose Lodge or Vincent United Methodist Church.