Emil Kramlich Obituary (1921 - 2016)

Emil Kramlich, 94, Bismarck, N.D., formerly of Steele and Rugby, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on July 5, 2016. Emil was born on July 7, 1921, and passed away just two days before his 95th birthday while surrounded by his children. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, July 11, 2016, at Evangel, Bismarck, with Pastor Morris Conklin, officiating. Visitation is scheduled from 2-4:00 PM, Sunday July 10, 2016, with a prayer service beginning at 3:00 PM, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. Burial will be in Fisher Cemetery, Tappen, North Dakota. Emil was born in Fredonia, North Dakota, to Gustave and Katherine (Steckler) Kramlich. He was raised and educated in Dawson, North Dakota. On August 15, 1938, he married Mary Mittleider in Steele, North Dakota. Together they had six children; five daughters and one son. He served in the US Army during WWII from July 20, 1944, to December 31, 1945. Emil had many stories about his time in the war. He began working in the lumberyard business in the 1940's in Tappen and was the manager in Steele for 14 years. In 1966, he and Mary moved to Rugby where he managed C\u0026G Lumber for 19 years. Emil and his son, Jerry, later purchased the lumberyard turning it into K\u0026K Lumber from 1975-1985. After retirement, he and his wife, Mary, painted houses for ten years during the summertime and in the winter they traveled to California to stay with Jerry and his family. He was very musical and taught himself the guitar, harmonica, and accordion. He could even play the guitar and harmonica at the same time! There were many times when the Kramlich family sang together at home, in the car, and at church. Even after their children were grown, Emil and Mary were very involved in their lives. Emil volunteered to use his handyman skills to help them in their homes and yards. Emil enjoyed his woodworking workshop where he built items such as nativity crches, freight trains, roadsters, school buses, etc. After Mary passed away in 2009, Emil continued going to coffee at Hardee's every afternoon, watching TV, and reading his Bible and the newspaper. Emil is survived by five daughters, Hilda (Gene) Giese, Fargo, Betty Lang, Mary Lou Retzer, Shirley Barnick (Don Olson), and Gloria (Dean) Steichen, all of Bismarck; and daughter-in-law, Melva Kramlich, Exeter, California; one brother, Gustave Kramlich, Lodi, California; sister-in-law, Emma Rose Kramlich, Medina; 23 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren, and 40 great-great-grandchildren. Emil was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary; son, Jerry Kramlich; three brothers, Reinhold (Emma), Ewald (Esther), and Roland Kramlich; infant sister, Lydia; sons-in-law, Curtis Nelson, Melvin Enzminger, Darold Lang, and Elmer Retzer; sister-in-law, Irene Kramlich; and grandson, Terry Enzminger.