Pauline Kramer Kloeckner -- 1990

        Funeral services for Pauline Kloeckner were held Friday, Dec. 21 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Burlington. Officiating was Rev. Norm Femrite. Organist was Kerri Floerke. Casket bearers were Kloeckner's grandchildren. Song selections were "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace" and "Rock of Ages." Final resting place was Immanual Lutheran Cemetery near Bethune.
       Pauline Kramer Kloeckner was born April 10, 1902, north of Bethune, to Frank Kramer and Fredricka Adolf Kramer on a farm homestead by her mother. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Bethune.
       Pauline married Walter H. Kloeckner on Feb. 23, 1922. This union was blessed with two sons and three daughter; Hildegarde, Vera, Al, Dorene, and Anton, who died at two months. They lived on a farm north of Bethune until the fall of 1936 when Walter's health deteriorated. When he died on Dec. 23, 1936, Pauline was left alone to raise four young children, ages 10 months to 14 years during the depression and dust storm years. Her determination to keep the children together, to raise them to adulthood, to get them educated, and to bring them up in the Christian faith was truly a labor of love, faith, hard work, tears and many prayers.  She worked by doing washing and ironing, as a waitress in cafes, as a clerk in the Kings Variety Store, J.C. Penney and J.M. McDonald and the Gambles Store, and for a time she operated a dress shop.
        Pauline had a massive stroke on Feb. 11, 1988. After being in hospitals in Colorado Springs she entered the Grace Manor Care Center on May 15, 1988. The stroke left her paralyzed on the right side and unable to talk but she remained cheerful and alert until the last few weeks.
        Pauline was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Bethune from birth until January 1937 when she and her family became members of First St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Burlington. She was a faithful member and committed her total life to her Lord.
Pauline passed away at Grace Manor on Dec. 19, 1990 at the age of 88 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Walter, infant son, Anton; brother Chris Kramer, and two sisters, Katie Jurgens and Amelia Stahlecker and half brothers Frank Kramer and Henry Kramer and half sisters Margaret Gerdes, Rose Hardwick, Mary Maul, and Christina Harmes.
        She is survived by her daughters Hildegarde Aeschlimann of Burlington, Vera Stahlecker of Canon City; Dorene Kloeckner of Burlington; and her son Al Kloeckner of Mosca, brother William Kramer on Bethune, 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.