Martha Nancy Kratzer

MARTHA NANCY KRATZER

Cedar Rapids

Martha Nancy Kratzer, 87, longtime resident of Cedar Rapids and Marion, Iowa, passed away on Sept. 21, 2021, at the St. Charles Illinois Brighton Garden Reminiscence Center. She was with her husband of 67 years, John G. Kratzer, at

the end.

Nancy was born on Aug. 25, 1934, in Springfield, Ill., to Chester and Margaret (Ostermeir) Jones. She graduated in 1952 from Lanphier High School, Springfield

and then went to work for Illinois Bell Telephone Company. She married John, her high school sweetheart, on Sept. 4, 1954, and after living one year in Germany, they moved permanently to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Nancy lived a full life that included gardening, baking, needlework, traveling, working for American Greetings Card Co., and many years of volunteering at Mercy Medical Center. She was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

Nancy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and a friend to all she met along life's pathway. Her greatest joys in life were caring for her family and friends, and exploring her beloved Iowa with her husband at her side.

In addition to John, she is survived by one daughter, Katherine Kratzer (Greg Olson) of St. Charles, Ill.; two sons, Dr. John Kratzer (Tammy), Syracuse, Ind., and Tom Kratzer (Helen), Golden, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Jason Kratzer (Sara), Waukee, Iowa, Nick Kratzer (Allison McCarthy), Clive, Iowa, Danny Kratzer, Englewood, Colo., Anna-Lise Cappy (Jeff), Alexandria, Ky., Cari Olson (Phil Magnone), Indianapolis, Ind., Marshall Kratzer (Bethany), Seattle, Wash., Mitchell Kratzer, Golden, Colo., and Ian Kratzer, Golden, Colo.; and eight great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous.

Online condolences may be left for the family at cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.