Kramp, Marian Elaine (nee Becker)

of St. Louis, Missouri passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the age of 94.  Marian was born on October 24, 1927, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the youngest of six children of the late Christian and Emma (Krase) Becker.  She attended St. Luke’s Catholic School and Washington High School.

During her high school years, she was popular with her movie-star-good looks that drew comparisons to the actress Deanna Durbin.  Due to the almost 20-year age difference between her and her older siblings, she was much closer in age to her nieces and nephews and consequently became their “favorite” stylish and always fun Aunt Becky.

With World War II raging during her high school years, many of her classmates went on to serve in the armed services and she chronicled their branches of choice in her yearbook.  Upon high school graduation in 1945, she entered a program offered by the government to ensure an adequate supply of nurses– the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps.  She attended St. Therese School of Nursing in Waukegan, Illinois, and then went on to serve as a nurse at Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago.  Eventually, she and a group of fellow nurses decided to follow the sun to San Francisco where she worked at Stanford University Hospital.  After a few years in California, she moved for “lighter duty” and an opportunity to dispense hangover remedies and hobnob with celebrities as the Royal Hawaiian Hotel nurse in Honolulu, Hawaii.   In the late 1950’s, she was pulled back to the Midwest working at Wood Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee where mutual friends set her up on a blind date with Charles David Kramp. They married on October 26, 1957, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Two Rivers, Wisconsin; the date scheduled around deer hunting season to assure the attendance of male family members.

Within six years’ time, the couple had 4 children and chased David’s career opportunities in trucking management by moving to Green Bay, Chicago, back to Milwaukee, finally settling in St. Louis.

Having worked on her family’s farm during the war years she learned to drive a tractor but never a car.  That need only arose after moving to St. Louis. David and Marian were committed to providing a Catholic education for their children, so in 1967 Marian decided to return to nursing to help with tuition, prompting the need to drive. With an audience of four untethered young kids in the back, she took lessons from David and quickly gained the right to her “independence” and 30 years of night shift work at Alexian Brothers Hospital.

She slept little in those days but was always available for her children, friends, scout meetings, homework, swim lessons, ball games and practices.  She supported her husband’s 40 plus years of coaching CYC basketball, often expanding the “family” beyond its nucleus.

Having no family in St. Louis, both David and Marian looked forward to car trips back to Wisconsin to visit family and get a dose of all things “wurst”, cheese curds, Polish bakery delights, fish fries, Becker Company ham and their beloved Green Bay Packers.

Marian developed a tight circle of St. Louis friends over bridge and bowling.  After retiring as a Nursing Supervisor at Alexian, she continued putting her skills to work caring for her growing family of in laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She nursed David at home for several years as the effects of Alzheimer’s diminished his abilities.  He predeceased her on June 25, 2013.  Marian remained in her home keeping up with friends at the Affton Bread Co., the bridge circuit and water aerobics at The Lodge Des Peres.

After a prolonged illness in 2018, Marian moved to Laclede Groves Assisted Living not far from her home.  There she made new friends, attended lunches and parties with her family, enjoyed arts and crafts, big band music and “The Voice” Frank Sinatra.  She was infamous for her luck at Bingo and her nightly cocktail hour.

Special thanks to the staff and friends at Laclede Groves Commons and REACH.  They embraced Marian in her waning years, giving her a sense of home and independence and in return, she bestowed upon them, and all who knew her, a few lessons in the art of graceful living.

Aloha Oe!

Marian is survived by her children Alison (Thomas) Talbot of Des Peres, Missouri, David (Susan) Kramp of Wildwood, Missouri, Karl (Janet) Kramp of Affton, Missouri and Barbara (Andrew) Hoppe of St. Louis County, Missouri; grandchildren Anna (Garrett)Huck, Lara (Brian) Halveland, Cynthia Kramp, Kristiana Kramp, Michelle Kramp, Jennifer Kramp, Lauren (Sean) Robb; great-grandchildren Lucas and Natalia Huck, Helene Halveland and Emma Robb; sisters-in-law Lucretia and Patricia Kramp of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; many nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

Visitation: Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Road 63123 on Tuesday, April 19 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Funeral from Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd 63123 on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:45 a.m. to Cure of Ars Catholic Church for 11:30 a.m. mass.  Internment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).