Fannie Kramer

Missoula , MT

January 4th, 1919 – January 21, 2010 On January 21, 2010, an era ended when we lost our family matriarch, Fannie Kramer. Fannie was born in Petersburg, VA on January 4th, 1919, the daughter of Morris and Jennie Peckler. She was raised and educated in Winston-Salem, NC. She moved with her family to Brooklyn, New York where she met and married Julius Kramer. They had three children: Norman, Michael and Judy and raised them in Totowa Borough, NJ. Years later, after Julius died, she followed her daughter Judy to Washington State where she spent so many happy years on Mercer Island. There, she met and married her second husband Michael Robb-Steinbock. After he passed away, she followed her daughter Judy and son-in-law Walter Luebeck to Missoula, Montana where she spent the last 9 years. Fannie was and is an inspiration to all who knew her. She enjoyed life – loved to travel, to read, to create art by painting, making postage stamp pictures, dried flower arrangements, various arts and crafts projects, taking many photographs of friends and strangers, and especially playing the piano. She corresponded with pen-pals around the world. She received awards from the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island for her many hours of volunteer service. But she often said that her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her three children. Fannie was a very special woman and had a profound influence on all of us. She was a true southern lady who believed in handwritten thank-you cards, always made guests welcome, never let anyone leave her home empty-handed, and made everyone feel appreciated. She loved to collect a variety of books including many on art and cooking. While on Mercer Island, Fannie would often take the bus into downtown Seattle where she would spend the day at one of the many art museums there. She swam at the Mercer Island “J,” played yahtzee with her friends and amused her family and guests by taking a recipe, substituting all but one ingredient and still calling it by its original name. Somehow it always turned out delicious. She was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law Edwin and Sylvia Peckler and her son Norman Kramer. Fannie is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Ettalie and Norman Simons of Florida, brother and sister-in-law Irving and Carol Peckler of Florida, daughter and son-in-law Judy and Walter Luebeck of Missoula, son and daughter-in-law Michael and Jeanette Kramer of Virginia, and daughter-in-law Maria Kramer of New York; grandchildren: Rick Kramer, Rebecca Kramer, Martin MacKenzie, Jennifer Graves, Ethan Kramer, Melissa Jentzsch & Jason Kramer; six great-grandchildren, extended family in Israel and many friends. As her family, we loved and cherished her kindness, her optimism and her sweet disposition. We will miss her very much. We are grateful to BeeHive Homes of Missoula for their excellent and compassionate care. A memorial service will be held later this year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island or the Alzheimer’s Association of Montana in her name.