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Joyce Kramer
JOYCE M. KRAMER
Dubuque
Joyce M. Kramer, 60, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully Jan. 4, 2017, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City following a courageous battle with cancer.
Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque. A private family service will take place, with burial in Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Petersburg.
Joyce was born June 7, 1956, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Gerald and Velma (Hullerman) Kramer. She graduated from Western Dubuque High School in 1974 and attended Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa.
On Oct. 16, 1982, she married William "Bill" Murray, and together they had one son, Jay. They later divorced, but remained close friends. Joyce later met Dale Lenz and enjoyed the past 17 years together.
She worked for Grand River Medical Group and Dubuque Endoscopy Center.
Joyce enjoyed attending antique car shows, especially East Dubuque Graffiti Nights with her 1972 Cutlass. Her son Jay, was her life and family was most important. She loved family get-togethers, reunions and spending time with her nieces and nephews. Joyce and Dale loved to shop for antiques. Joyce loved to attend all family events, tailgating and watching Iowa State football games. She enjoyed walking her dogs, Sassy and Max.
Joyce made the best cakes (carrot and German chocolate) in Dubuque County and her cherry wine was toasted by many.
Her wisdom, joyful smile and contagious laughter will be missed by many.
She is survived by her son, Jay of Dubuque; special friend, Dale Lenz of Dubuque; siblings, Janet (Ed) Day of New Berlin, Wis., Lynn (Steve) Galvin of Moline, Ill. Caril (Bruce) Clasen of Minneapolis, Ellen (Jim) Funcke of Coralville, Dean (Deb) Kramer of Swisher, Neil (Ellen) Kramer of Dyersville, LeeAnn (Mike) Gentry of Hamilton, Ohio, Reyne (Don) Koopmann of Epworth and Phil (Jessica) Kramer of Solon; her former husband, Bill Murray of Cedar Rapids; the Lenz family: Dee (Terry) Schilling, Denny Lenz (Jennifer Turner), Dianne (Jack) Brehm and David (Cindy) Lenz; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and her dogs, Sassy and Max.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, John Kramer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital or Iowa Donor Network.
The family would like to thank Dr. Amy Ewen, Dr. Jean Marie Stephan ad Team; Dr. Timothy Thomsen and the staff at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; and to all the Dubuque doctors who helped Joyce through this courageous battle.
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