Norbert "Norb" Gramke

Norbert J. “Norb” Gramke, age 92 of Meire Grove, passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at the Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Norbert John Gramke was born July 3, 1929 in Meire Grove, Minnesota to Henry and Mary (Zenzen) Gramke. Norb worked construction and was a farm hand until the age of 25. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was united in marriage to Ruth Zumwalde on May 1, 1965 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. Norb was a milk hauler in Meire Grove and later became a partner at the creamery in Richmond. He managed the Meire Grove Coop Creamery for nine years. His next endeavor was at Breitbach Construction where he worked until his retirement in 1994. Norb was a lifelong mechanic and welder who could fix anything.

He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove, St. Joseph’s Men’s Society, and the Knights of Columbus. Norb served as Mayor of Meire Grove, Chairman of G.E.M. Board and spearheaded the sewer installation, and served on the school board when Meire Grove and Greenwald schools combined. Norb enjoyed cutting wood, working in his shop, and gardening.

Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Ruth Gramke of St. Joseph; children, Mary (Thomas) Orth of Sauk Centre, Jim (Patty) Gramke of St. Cloud, Joan (Nathan) Eisenbacher of Sartell, Mark (Carrie) Gramke of Sartell, and Julie Gramke of Minneapolis; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Norb was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Raymond Gramke; and sister, Erma Ruprecht.

A special thank you to the staff at Serenity Place on 7th, Hilltop Health Care Center, and St. Croix Hospice for the wonderful care you provided our father.