Kraner, Myrtle Majella 'Kay' Keve

Myrtle Majella “Kay” Keve Kraner, 101, died Feb. 13, 2012, at Crestview Acres Nursing Home in Marion. Services will be held at a later date. Entombment: Oakland Cemetery and Mausoleum, Freeport, Ill. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

Kay was born Oct. 17, 1910, in Freeport, Ill., to Mary Niles Keve and John Freemont Keve. She graduated with a BA degree in French at Cornell College and shortly thereafter married Eber James Kraner.   Kay's lifelong loves were traveling and reading a wide variety of subjects, particularly biographies. In her younger years, she was an avid tennis player, swimmer and winter sports enthusiast. Kay was never short of friends and was very close to her four sisters (especially Lucile) and brother.

She was a devoted wife and companion to her husband, Jim.  Early in their marriage they traveled from town to town in Wisconsin as portrait photographers. During Jim's final years, when he was afflicted with cancer, Kay was his caregiver and guardian angel.

She was also a loving mother to her two sons John and Ken, as well as a doting grandmother and great-grandmother.

She spent countless hours as a volunteer for the United Way in Cedar Rapids and had a special place in her heart for those who were less fortunate. Despite her own modest means, Kay was a most generous human being.

She had an easy laugh and wry sense of humor, never complained and brought out the best in everyone she met. She was very proud of her mastery of Scrabble and crossword puzzles.

Kay was a person who had no enemies and a host of devoted friends.

Kay is survived by son, John K. Kraner and wife Kay of Arizona; grandchildren, John K. Kraner Jr. of Baraboo, Wis., Mark D'Tayo of Minneapolis, Kristine (Shad) Kraner Branen of Burlington, Wis., Kaaba P. Kraner of Baltimore, Mass., and Yarrow Kraner of Bozeman, Mont.; great-grandchildren, Chloe Branen, Sophia Branen and Tatiana D'Tayo; and the Foster families in Iowa City.

She was preceded by her husband, Jim Kraner; son, Ken Kraner; nephew, Wesley Fred Foster; and siblings, Vincent Parks, Waneta Ventura, Dorothy Elenor, Florence Mercedes and Lucile Sabine.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be sent to www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 19, 2012 in The Gazette