Obituary of Maurice Ray Kramersmeier

A Funeral Service for Maurice "Morrie" Kramersmeier, 82, of Arnolds Park will be held Monday, April 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Good News Community Church in Okoboji. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Due to current road construction on Highway 71, turn west on Depot Ave (Tweeter's Bar & Grill corner) then turn north on Julia Street to arrive at the church. Burial will be in Highland Home Cemetery in Ledyard, Iowa.

Maurice Ray Kramersmeier was born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, on July 14, 1940, to John and Alice Kramersmeier. He grew up on the family farm west of Ledyard and attended Ledyard High School. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed near San Francisco, CA. After his discharge from the Army, Morrie married Mary Huber on April 4, 1964.

Morrie farmed with his dad until 1969, when he started farming on his own. He was a member of the Bethany ER Church in Ledyard and American Legion Post 675. Morrie enjoyed attending his children’s activities, never missing an event. Even planting and harvesting could wait. If his children were participating in something, he was right there supporting and cheering for them. Even with all of his children's activities, he surprisingly had time for hobbies like golf. He had a large collection of pig figurines that he acquired on his travels or from friends and family. This collection was extensive, and word got around to the newspapers. Morrie was interviewed for an article in the Fairmont Sentinel and also interviewed for Wallaces Farmer magazine. His hog house and pigs made the magazine’s cover.

After Morrie retired from farming in December of 1995, he had a farm auction on January 22, 1996 and moved to Okoboji shortly after. Morrie kept himself very busy with golfing and boating during the day and dancing at night. Morrie met Austinette in October of 2001, and on April 13, 2002, they were married.

Morrie and Austinette enjoyed getting together with friends, traveling and spending time together going to the Art Center and Okoboji Summer Theatre. They liked sitting on their patio overlooking the golf course as golfers teed off from the tee box that was close by. They especially loved being visited by their kids and grandkids.

Morrie, not surprisingly, had a regular routine of places to meet his friends for coffee and a cookie or breakfast in the morning. You could always know where to find him by what day of the week it was and what time of day. During the summer, if it wasn’t raining, he would be out at Indian Hills Golf Course golfing with friends and then finishing up in the clubhouse before going home to be with Austinette for the evening.

Morrie passed away on Friday March 24, 2023, with his wife, Austinette, by his side.

Morrie is survived by his wife Austinette Kramersmeier of Arnolds Park; children, Troy Kramersmeier and his wife Shanyn of Johnston, Iowa, Lisa Looft of Swea City, Iowa and Brenda Ascheman and her husband Dale of Jackson, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Angela Jackson Sidles of Spirit Lake, Iowa; grandchildren, Cole Kramersmeier, Nick Kramersmeier, Kennedy Kramersmeier, John (Heidi) Loft, Jaimes (Krista) Looft, Austin Sidles, Savannah Amdahl, Anna Ascheman and Tara Looft; great-grandchildren, Freya Looft, Jacob Looft, Luke Looft and Kayden Anderson; brothers, Delmar Kramersmeier and Wallace (Char) Kramersmeier; sisters, Jean Sharpe and Faye Boland.

Morrie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alice Kramersmeier; his first wife, Mary Huber Kramersmeier; step-son, Scott Sidles.