Kathleen Cramer

Kathleen (“Kathie”) Cramer (née Muehlig), 66, of Ypsilanti died on July 9, 2013, from complications of multiple sclerosis. She is survived by her husband, Don Cramer, and her cousins Carol Muehlig of Ann Arbor and Linda Muehlig, of Northampton, Massachusetts. She was preceded in death by her mother Adelyn (“Fay”) Muehlig, and father, Erwin Muehlig. Kathie graduated from Ann Arbor High School and attended the University of Michigan (1964-68), where she studied languages and engineering, and Washtenaw Community College (1968-70), where she studied languages and mathematics. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a BBA in business computing in 1979. At Eastern, she first worked at the school library, and in 1983, began working in the University Computing department in financial aid and then in student systems. When she was diagnosed with MS in 1993, she continued to work at the university and then from home, until her retirement in 2005.

Don and Kathie first met in 1967 and discovered their mutual interests in computers, motorcycles, theater, and cats. They became engaged in 1969 and were married on July 11, 1970 at the First Congregational Church in Ypsilanti, departing after the reception on a motorcycle, with Kathie wearing her wedding veil. In the 1970s they often joined the Michigan Cycle Conservation Club for trail rides. Kathie was a hobbyist in the fiber arts. Knitting (and shopping at yarn stores) was her favorite, with rug-hooking being a close second. She also did some spinning, weaving, macramé and bobbin lace. Kathie played Dungeons and Dragons, and later became an avid online “gamer” in multi-player adventure/fantasy games, interests that she eagerly pursued for almost three decades. Don and Kathie enjoyed trips to Seattle, Charleston, SC, and a trip to London and the Isle of Man, but their favorite trip was a Smithsonian cruise on the Alaskan inside passage, a late celebration of their 20th anniversary. In 1998, they custom-designed and built their timber-framed home in Ypsilanti with accessibility features to accommodate Kathie and her mobility scooter. Kathie didn’t allow MS to discourage her in any way.

A memorial service will be held July 29, 2013 at 11:oo a.m. at the Muehlig funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor, The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.