Dianne Leone Kraemer (Age 88) - Born July 14, 1935, passed away peacefully at Grand View Care Center in Blair, WI on Memorial Day holiday, Monday, May 27th, 2024.

She is survived by four sons:  Wade (Anne) Kraemer, Ettrick, WI, John Kraemer, Neillsville, WI, Brad (Michelle) Kraemer, Prairie Du Sac, WI and Greg (Mary Beth) Kraemer, Waukesha, WI.    She is further survived by (12) grandchildren:  Kelly (John) Feyen, Daniel Kraemer, Melissa (James) Tennison, Michael Kraemer, Cody (Angelena) Kraemer, Sarah Kraemer, Lauren Kraemer, Emily (Cole) Olson, Keith Kraemer, Hannah Kraemer, Ellie (Levi) Klimesh and Zoe Kraemer...  (10) great grandchildren:   Owen, Addisyn & Aaron Feyen, Isaac, Andrew & Molly Tennison, Westin & Vaiah Kraemer, Brielle Schell and Miles Klimesh.

She is also survived by one sister Margaret (Russell) Young, sister and brother-in-laws: Judi Cox, Tony (Ann) Salerno, Marcia Hardie, Lois (Chris) Lantz, Bill (Jean) Kraemer, Lynda (Fred Stierle) Pyter, David (Ann) Kraemer and Ken Kraemer.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life Robert Kraemer, one son, Craig Kraemer,   who passed away in infancy, her only daughter, Lisa Kraemer, who passed away in 2020, her parents Keith & Cecile Hardie, her in-laws Herbert & Evelyn Kraemer, her sister Annette, her brother Robert Hardie, and sister and brother in laws: Stanley Jungck, Carol Salerno, Marty Kowalefski, Ken Cox, Debbie & Keith Spencer, Ricardo Andrade, a very special Aunt Sara & Uncle Leland Clair who helped to care for and raise Dianne & Robert's special daughter Lisa Kraemer, and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends over the years - all of which were so special to Dianne and she loved with all of her heart.   When the phrase "It takes a Village to raise a family!"  Dianne would definitely agree and she would be the one of the first in line if someone needed her help.

If you knew Dianne, you know just how far ahead of her time she was in this world... a fierce warrior for women's equal rights, she broke down barriers in the world of business when at 18 years old, she moved from rural Franklin, WI down to Milwaukee, WI to begin her adult life and enter the job market.   She met her future husband Robert Kraemer at Square D in Milwaukee, WI and they married while Robert was still in the U.S. Army in Virginia Beach, VA on June 20th, 1956.  She also worked as one of the first female car salespeople in Wisconsin while also raising her young family.   In 1971, Bob & Dianne moved the family from Milwaukee to rural Ettrick, WI after purchasing a Shopper publication from Dianne's Aunt & Uncle, Leone & Richard Mattson.   Soon the name was changed to the Arrow Shopper and it eventually grew to be the pre-eminent shopping style publication in the Tri-County area of West Central Wisconsin - Serving over 25,000 homes - completely covering Jackson & Trempealeau Counties and portions of Buffalo, Clark & La Crosse Counties.   Dianne spent a great deal of time on the road helping sell advertising and building long term friends from the clients that she handled over the years.    One additional weekly duty that she took on  was also providing a complete dinner to all of the Arrow Shopper's employees that stayed late every Monday night for the paper's pages to be layed out and developed for print since the hours were long and usually took them all into the late evening to get it all done.      Many of you may recall the weekly column that she used to write in the shopper called "DIANNE'S ETHICS," where she tackled the top stories that affected the USA, the World and also her local country men & women.   In it she expressed her strong opinions on almost any topic, whether major to minor, her opinions were always strong, well researched and very clear, but she always welcomed the opinions of others, requested that they be sent back to her so she could read them, but her only rule was you had to sign the letters sent or in her opinion, they were not worth reading if you didn't attach your name to them.   For or Against her opinions and articles, she wanted to know the names of the people who sent them, because if they weren't willing to attach their name to their letter, email, etc... then it wasn't worth her time to read them.   Not her quote, but a good one... Stand for something or fall for anything!

Dianne also had a knack for building and interior design, helping many other people with their design for new construction and additions, she also designed both of the homes that were built for her own family over the years.  The last home built by her own father Keith Hardie and her brother-in-law Russell Young.    She loved bowling having served as a member of the Arrow Shopper team in many leagues over the years.   She put up with a household of men who like to hunt, fish and enjoy the great outdoors and that made her life a bit cluttered at times a bit crazy.   She also was a supporter of Ducks Unlimited for many years and too many banquets to mention, along with her husband Robert.   I am sure a lot of wetlands and habitat were saved for the birds and animals that Dianne loved so much.   We all lived in a household that loved to laugh and Dianne's was the easiest one to get the laughing bug with, because if Dianne was laughing, then we were all doing the same for sure!!!

 She always loved a good cup of coffee, which she aptly named her "Wake Up Juice," to tackle a good crossword puzzle and watch the deer and birds in her own back yard....  add a great Tennis match on TV - especially the major tournaments, and her life was good.   Dianne always had a strong connection to our family's Norwegian history and all of our Norwegian relatives that still live across the big Atlantic Ocean (over the Big Pond).   She made her first trip to Norway at the age of 18 with her Grandfather Samson Steine and met most of her relatives.   She made the trip three more times in her later life and due to her diligence, we are still in touch with all of them and have many Facebook connections as well.   We are still connected to them due to the efforts of Dianne and her mother, Cecile Hardie (Steine).

Dianne was always a huge supporter of human and equal rights.   She has given both time, talent and energy to many causes over the years and has always helped anyone who she saw needed help, asked for help or she was aware of, regardless of who they were, whether she knew them or not, or her current or future relationship with them was going to be.   Her Lutheran faith was strong all the way to the end.   It kept her spirits high, her laugh strong and her love undeniable.   Her love was unconditional.   She will be missed more than words can say.    She would want everyone to know how much we are all loved by our God and Jesus Christ. :-)

Services for Dianne Kraemer will be held at North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church (White building) on Saturday, June 29 2024 Visitation 11am to 1pm service to follow Lunch to follow Kratz Funeral Home assisting with arrangements.