Joan Marie (Kunkel) Kremer Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joan Kremer is an angel today. She always was. Joan Marie (Kunkel) Kremer passed away Sunday, May 29, 2022, surrounded by loving family. She was 92 and had lived in Evansville for nearly all those years. Joan was born on Oct. 11, 1929, in St. Louis, Mo., the second-oldest of five children born to Frank and Regina Grassmann Kunkel. The family moved to Evansville a few years later, and Joan graduated from St. Anthony elementary school and Memorial High School (1947). She married Jerome W. (Jerry) Kremer on Sept. 12, 1953, and they spent nearly 60 wonderful years together before his death in 2011. They produced four children. Facts and dates don’t begin to tell the life story of Joan Kremer. It is no exaggeration to say she was loved by all who knew her and admired by all who met her. Her grace and unassuming elegance were coupled with a genuinely caring attitude and a smile that warmed every room she entered and the heart of every stranger she turned into friend. “Ma Krames” was everybody’s mother, favorite aunt, precious neighbor, good friend. “She is leaving her beautiful imprint in the hearts of everyone she has touched with her kindness and gentle spirit,” one friend’s tribute declared. Another friend described her as “such a beautiful lady inside and out. She was always so kind and loving.” Her children – Karen, Bob, Jill and Ron – adored her. On her 90th birthday, one wrote, “The memories of our loving home are precious and far too many to count. Friday night popcorn parties; hundreds if not thousands of baseball games; camping weekends at Lincoln City; Cardinals mania; extra special holidays – especially Christmas Eve. Suffice it to say that Mom was at the center of the life of this home.” Joan was called “Mother Christmas” among several titles that helped define her. Her perfect Christmas tree, decked halls and beautifully wrapped gifts were unmatched. Among the highlights of the season for her was a Christmas carol family singalong. “Silent Night” was one of her favorite songs. Joan never missed a game, performance or activity involving her children – and never failed to juggle her busy schedule to provide a family meal afterward. Monday nights were legendary for her fried chicken. Joan and Jerry were lifelong devout Catholics who served as faith-filled, moral and ethical models for their children. Faith wasn’t so much taught as experienced. Especially in the children’s early years, their parents helped them with bedtime prayers that were always followed by an “I love you.” Family and faith were her joy. Joan held secretarial jobs for the Knights of Columbus and at Whirlpool before her children arrived and later became a full-time mom. After the children entered school, she took a bookkeeping job – a role she had to learn from scratch and in which she eventually excelled. Her books always balanced to the penny. She found time to serve as a Girl Scout leader and cookie chairman – her children remember stacks of cookie boxes that nearly filled their family room – and to do other volunteer work for Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She also sang in the Holy Spirit choir. Later she joined the choir at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where her daughter Jill was music director. Choir members who came to love her called her “Mama K.” Joan said recently that her years with the choir were among the best times in her life. Joan also was a member of the St. Mary Auxiliary and volunteered in the hospital gift shop. Joan was predeceased by her parents, husband Jerry, and brothers Bob, Jim and Tom Kunkel, all of Evansville. Survivors include her children: Karen Kremer, Bob Kremer (Debbie), Jill Jackson (Bill), and Ron Kremer (Jane), all of Evansville; grandchildren: Brian Kremer (Elizabeth) of New Palestine, Ind., Kelly Paul (Adam) of Newburgh, John Kremer (Anne) of Findlay, Ohio, Matthew Kremer of Evansville, and Adam Kremer of Indianapolis; great-grandchildren: Elliott, Andrew and Evan Kremer, Austin, Isaac and Amelia Paul, and Kenzie, Bradley and Thomas Kremer; and a sister, Carole Watt (Tony) of Fishers, Ind. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S. Green River Road, Evansville, Ind., 47715. Visitation will be held Monday, June 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Memorial service at 7:00 p.m. at Ziemer Funeral Home, 800 S. Hebron Avenue. in Evansville. Visitation will continue at the church from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday before the Mass. The family requests that masks be worn at visitation and the mass. The mass will be live-streamed on the Holy Rosary Facebook and YouTube sites. Here are links: https://www.facebook.com/HRCatholicChurch https://www.youtube.com/c/HolyRosaryCatholicChurchEVV. Contributions may be made to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S. Green River Road, Evansville, Ind., 47715. In her final hours, her family sang “Silent Night” at her bedside and virtually. Good night, Joan. Sleep in heavenly peace. Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com.

Joan Marie (Kunkel) Kremer

October 11, 1929 - May 29, 2022