Genevieve Cramer

Genny Cramer was a caring and humorous woman known for her hard-work ethic and her talent for resourcefulness. Those who knew Genny will remember her for her welcoming nature and the way she made everyone she knew feel loved. The year 1919 was a triumphant year for the United States. As the Allies and Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, which incorporated President Woodrow Wilson’s Covenant of League of Nations, the world moved closer to terminating World War I. Although the US citizens celebrated the signing of the treaty, no champagne corks were popped as the war came to an end, and America adopted the 18th amendment prohibiting alcohol. Though there was certainly a lot of excitement in that year, for Edgar Ulysses Louden and Nellie Viola (Reinboldt) Louden the most memorable event of 1919 was the August 13th birth of their daughter Genevieve at the family farm on 36th Street between Fulton and Vicksburg. One of eight children, Genny quickly became a social being who loved playing with her friends and family. Since the Louden household was known to be warm and inviting, her parents operated an open-door policy, meaning that friends and neighbors were always welcome to drop in and spend an evening with the family. Life on the farm in the years preceding the Great Depression was hard, but because Mr. and Mrs. Louden were gracious and loving people, the children always had fun. As a child Genny would often enjoy dancing with her brother and sisters as her father played the fiddle after dinner. Though there was a lot to be done around the farm, Nellie made sure that even work was fun by making up little games to make the chores seem like play. As Genny grew into adulthood she would inherit her mother’s kindness and creativity, in order to make sure her own children’s lives were full of love and laughter. Nellie was also important in teaching the kids how to cook, clean, sew, and make do with what you had. These lessons would become very important to Genny later in life when she followed her family’s example and became a farm wife. Although Genny was quite busy with work on the farm, she also made time for her education and attended elementary school at Brown School on 34th Street. It was clear that she enjoyed school, but after a few weeks in the ninth grade at Vicksburg High School, she followed the trend of many young ladies of the time, and left school to help on the farm full time. Even though she had stopped formally attending school, she certainly did not stop learning, particularly about music. Inheriting her father’s ear, she thoroughly enjoyed almost all music and taught herself to play the piano by ear. As Genny grew older, she also continued her love for dancing, and as fate would have it, she was at a dance in Leonidas the same night as the handsome Stanley Cramer. she was immediately attracted to his ‘football physique’ and he was won over by the fact that she could make a meal out of virtually nothing. It was not long before the lovebirds decided to become permanent dance partners and they took their vows on February 26, 1938. At first the young newlyweds struggled to make ends meet, but because of their hard work and dedication to saving, they were eventually able to purchase a farm on YZ Ave. The Cramers would make the farm their home until October 3, 1983, the day Stanley died and Genny sold the farm. Together Stanley and Genny raised two children on the farm: Daniel and Sharon. Genny worked hard to take care of her house and family, and she was a good wife and a caring mother. Because of her frugal nature, she always made sure her family was always provided for. Throughout the years growing up on the farm, she had learned to make a delicious meal using leftovers, and also knew how to outfit her children using only scraps of fabric. Her resourcefulness made her an excellent cook, and she was always enjoyed potlucks! She had a great philosophy about these events and maintained that you should bring enough food to feed your family, and of course something for dessert! She was a very excellent, traditional cook whose pies, cookies, biscuits, and roast beef could make your mouth water. Though Genny was often thought of as being shy and reserved, like her parents, she loved having guests and would often host home parties such as Tupperware, Stanley Home Products, Swipe Cleaning Supplies, and for awhile she even helped support the family income by selling Newmode Hosiery door to door. Because Genny had so much love to share, after Daniel and Sharon grew up and left the home, she became a foster mother. Since Genny was such an accepting person she excelled in this role. Those who knew her would often remark about what a caring person she was and how she would treat her children-in-laws as her own. Following Stanley’s death in 1983, Genny moved to Sun Meadows apartments in Vicksburg. After moving, she remained active in church, and regularly attended the Crossroads Missionary Church in Mendon. Aside from volunteering at church, she also became an adoptive grandmother. Although she enjoyed traveling occasionally, it was clear that her favorite place was at home. Throughout her entire life her family was very important. She loved children, and she was always very patient with them. As her family grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she enjoyed teaching the children how to read and telling them stories about “the good old days”. She cherished every moment she was able to spend with her family and especially loved having them for holiday gatherings at the farm. After 84 years of a long and loving life, Genny went to be with her Lord on May 22, 2004. Family and friends may gather to remember Genny’s life during visitation on Tuesday from 2-4 pm and 6-8pm at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren Life Story Funeral Home, Vicksburg Chapel where her funeral services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday. She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley; three sisters: Flossie Hoch, Edna Van Avery, Iva Garrison; 1 brother: Alfred Louden; and a grandson Tim. Genny’s memory will remain in the hearts of those who survive her including her son Daniel and his wife Pat of Vicksburg and her daughter Sharon (Bruce) Rapp of Battle Creek, 6 grandchildren: Todd and his wife Christie Rapp, Theresa Rapp, Zoe and her husband Jim Brainard, Dana Cramer, Robert Cramer, and Emily Cramer, 9 great grandchildren: Mara, Zach, Nathan, Libby, Delaney, Stanley, Alexa, Raina, and Tristin, 3 sisters: Mildred Skinner of Fulton, Luella Morrison of Scotts, and Betty Taylor and her husband Elmer of Fulton. To read Genny’s full life story, share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial donation to Hospice Care of SW Michigan or the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit Genevieve’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com. Genny’s incredible spirit and love for life will be remembered in all those who knew her. Her sense of humor, caring heart, and love of children will serve as a living legacy to her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren.