Jeanne Elizabeth Kramer

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Jeanne Kramer died at her home on May 15, 2015 at age 89. She was born October 10, 1925 in Lacrosse, Wisconsin to Gail and Marguerite Bohrnstedt. She moved to the Chicago area after high school and later worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad where she met Walter Henry Kramer. They were married June 8, 1945. Following moves to Portland, Bloomington and South Bend, Indiana, and Atlanta, the couple returned to their beloved Portland in 1965 and settled in the Laurelhurst neighborhood.

Jeanne’s career in retail began in Atlanta at Rich’s department store, where she moved quickly into the position of Manager of Silver and Fine Jewelry (1961-65). After moving back to Portland she accepted a position as Buyer for Women’s Lingerie at Meier and Frank (1965-69).

In 1969, Jeanne left the retail industry and accompanied Walter to Pavia, Italy, where he served as Director of the Italian Studies Center for two years. After returning to Portland, she devoted her time to her grandchildren, as well as volunteering at the Albertina Kerr Center and the Providence Child Center Guild. Upon her husband’s death in 2002, she established the Walter and Jeanne Kramer Endowment Fund at the Providence Child Center and the Walter and Jeanne Kramer Endowed Scholarship at St. Mary’s Academy in Portland.

Jeanne leaves a rich family legacy: four daughters, Kathleen Hardman (Dennis), Ann Kramer Borcic (Zeljko), Patricia Kramer (Clifford Temple) and Mary Jo Chapman (Chris); ten grandchildren, Melissa Buchanan (Bruce), Robert Hardman (Ming), Katie Gonzales (David), Vanessa Borcic (Nick Jinkinson), Ian Borcic (Iva), Luka Borcic, Nick Temple (Jasmine), Lauren Temple, Kristine Castellanos (Germain) and Steven Chapman; and 10 great grandchildren, Connor Buchanan, Eva and Grace Gonzales, Evan, Nina and Finn Jinkinson, Preston, Lawson and Logan Temple, and Tomas Castellanos. She is preceded in death by her husband Walter and her four siblings, Gail, Janis, Nancy and John.

A funeral Mass will be held at All Saints Catholic Church, 3847 NE Glisan Street, Portland, May 28 at 11 am, with the rosary at 10:30am. A reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to the Walter and Jeanne Kramer Endowment Fund at the Providence Child Center, Portland, or to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland.