Norma Schnabl

Norma E. Schnabl, 87, passed away peacefully, in her sleep, at Edgewood Vista in Brainerd, MN on Saturday, April 30, 2011. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 3:00 PM, Thursday, May 5 at St. Mathias Catholic Church with Father Tony Wroblewski officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Following a luncheon at the church, Norma will be interred at Oakland Cemetery.

Norma Elizabeth was born October 28, 1923, the daughter of William and Mary (Hoerner) Jordan. She attended grade school in a one room, wood-framed building and graduated from Washington High School in Brainerd in 1942. She inspected generators for three years at O'Keefe and Merritt, a company based in California, to support the war effort. On June 20, 1945, she was married to Roy Kramer in Brainerd. The couple raised their six children in St. Cloud, MN. Her children and grandchildren were the light of her life. After her children were grown, she turned her love and attention to children with special needs. In 1971, she graduated from St. Cloud Vo-Tech with a certificate in Child Services Technology. She worked at Lincoln Grade School in St. Cloud and the Brainerd State Hospital. She received her CNA certification and later worked for Bethany Good Samaritan and Good Neighbors in Brainerd. Since 1967, she has resided at her home on Crow Wing Lake, just six miles from where she was raised. She married Ralph Olson on August 14, 1976. They enjoyed traveling, attending auctions and wintering in Florida. Ralph preceded her in death on September 27, 1985. Norma was a kind-hearted, fun-loving lady who enjoyed all her neighbors over the many years. She liked collecting dolls, antiques, listening to country music, playing cribbage and working with various art mediums. She also liked raking the yard, bird-watching, and traveling, especially to be with her grandchildren. Norma married John Schnabl on March 25, 1992 on the island of Maui, HI. They continued to revisit the island for several years for their anniversary. They spent winters in Arizona, where they connected with many new and old friends. Mostly, Norma loved her family and her many, many friends, including those who passed before her. She was known for her great sense of humor. She always had a good story to share and continued to remember all the little details right to the end of her days.

Norma is survived by her husband, John; her six children, Dennis Kramer, and wife, Joyce, of Joliet, MT, Sandi Waverek, and husband, Tom, of Kalispell, MT, Rick Kramer, and wife, Jean, of Kalispell, MT, Kevin Kramer, and wife, Donna, of Kalispell, MT, Keith Kramer, and wife, Rita, of St. Cloud, and Cheryl Hoheisel, and husband, Mark, of Orlando, FL; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; step-children, Betty Schnabl and David (Darla) Schnabl; sisters, Loretta Siekert, also of Edgewood Vista in Brainerd; and brothers, Ralph Jordan, of CA and Bernie Jordan, of CA. She also had many loving and caring nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first two husbands, Roy Kramer and Ralph Olson; threes brothers, Clarence, Jim and Len; and her best friend, Pauline. We know as Norma entered into the heavenly gates, her most beloved grandson, Patrick Kramer, who died in 2006, was surely there to welcome her home.

Our family wishes to thank the dedicated care-givers at Edgewood Vista in Brainerd and those at Country Manor in Sartell, MN and also her Hospice caseworkers. Your loving care and attention, especially in her final days, has touched our family deeply.

We ask that any memorials are preferred to your local Humane Society in memory of her loving companion, Ginger.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Brainerd.