"I keep thinking of Carol and how we had so much fun back stage, especially during Annie Jr. rehearsals. Oh my gosh, we knew how to have fun !!! She really loved doing the Victorian Christmas, too. She loved helping others. Life got so busy and now I regret not seeing her more often the last few years. Loved our lunch dates and will never forget coming to her house for soup. Such fun times. I hope you are doing ok Bob, Jennifer and Jeff. "
In loving memory of
Carol Ann Schramm
September 12, 1946 - February 26, 2018
Carol Schramm, 71, of Glenwood, IA, passed away on February 26, 2018 at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. As per the wishes of her family, cremation has taken place. Visitation with family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood. There is no scheduled service.
Memorials: Directed to the family
Carol Ann Schramm, one of two children of Arthur and Ona (Dietzel) Burjes, was born on September 12, 1946 in Staunton, Illinois. She grew up in the small rural village of Dorsey, Illinois and graduated from the Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois with the class of 1964. Carol attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. She had a degree in education and specialized in teaching middle school sciences. Carol held teaching licenses in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. She taught in Park Forest and Matteson, Illinois, Hobart, Indiana, Millburn, Illinois, Evergreen, Colorado, and Red Oak, Iowa. She received numerous awards for her excellence in teaching. After retirement, Carol volunteered with the National Park Service and lead tours and hikes at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Carol and Robert Frederick Schramm were united in marriage on December 28, 1968 in Ashland, Ohio. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Jeff and Jennifer.
Carol was a member of the Mills Masquers. She loved gardening, sewing and traveling. She was a gifted seamstress making costumes for the Theatre and award winning Halloween costumes for her family. Her travels took her to Europe, Canada, Alaska, and remote Pacific islands. Carol enjoyed spending time with her friends and her family, and especially loved being a grandma to her beloved grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mom, grandma and a good friend to all who knew her.
Carol passed away on February 26, 2018 at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 71 years, 5 months, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother Charles Burjes.
Carol is survived by her husband of 50 years, Robert Schramm of Glenwood; son Jeff Schramm and wife Mara Witynski of Rolla, MO; daughter Jennifer Cutillo and husband Jim of Centralia, WA; two grandchildren, Lena and Theodore; other relatives; and many, many friends.
Tributes
"I loved having Carol and Bob as neighbors and was so bummed when they moved away from Colorado. Even though we didn't talk often, we did keep in contact and Carol was always funny, positive and caring. I haven't met many people in my adult life who also went to a Lutheran School...ha ha...so we had that in common. She was a lovely person and we also had the Hawaii connection. My deepest condolences to Bob, Jennifer and Jeff. She was a gem."
"Billy O'Keefe and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Schramm family at the passing of Carol. We are happy to have met her and shared in her joy of life. I will always remember her for her interest in our public library project in Grants, New Mexico."
"To my forever friend. You and I have been through so much together. Starting in the one-room schoolhouse at Dorsey, through 8th grade at st. Peter's Lutheran and then on to Edwardsville High School. Through boyfriends, crazy Adventures, getting married and having babies. Many letters and weekly visits on the phone. You are the one who knows things about me that no one else knows as well as I know things about you and I will take them to my grave haha. I know where you are and I know I will see you in the future. Tell Don I miss him and we will all be together again. I already miss you so much."
"Bob, your GM&O RR Historical Society-family (and thus, Carol's-family, too) stand with you during this loss and will continue even closer after, if you'd like. Let us know when you're coming around (like with me, in STL) or just call whenever. Our hearts go out to you all."
"Bob, on behalf of the members of the Omaha N-Trak Club, please accept our sincere condolences and sympathies for you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Warren Mattox Omaha N-Trak "
"I am so sad to hear of the passing of Carol. I just learned about her last year through Melinda Guild. Her father, Arthur, was my mothers cousin, and I believe I met him (and maybe her) in my visit to Fosterburg area in 1977. My mother was a Burjes. She and I had some computer visits. Please know we are thinking of you, her family. Was her death unexpected? Ruth Herrman Buchtel. "
"I want to express my sincere symathy to Bob and family in the loss of dear Carol. She was such a great friend to me and countless others. I will never forget all the fun we had on the Mills Masquer's stage and back stage. She was so fun to be with. Our birthday club will have a piece missing now. May God's loving, comforting arms surround you in this time of sorrow. "
"Although Carol is my 2nd cousin, we didn't get to meet her until she had her DNA tested last year. I was thrilled to make the connection! The Burjes family is large, I have met very few of my cousins because we live so far away from each other. Although we I never got to meeting in person, but I did get to know her sunny personality through our email correspondence and comments on our Facebook posts. Within a very short a time, I had no doubt we were related. I will miss her. May I extend my deepest condolences to all who knew her, and especially Robert and her family. Melinda Gouldd San Francisco, CA"
"Carol was such a kind hearted lady. She always had fun stories of her family to share. I met her through Mills Masquers Theatre and was in the current show with her. I will always remember the last evening I spoke with her fondly. For I got to see her and Loise laughing so hard they were both about in tears. And I remember Carol saying doubled over laughing that she hadn't laughed that hard in years! All this was over a silly costume they were trying on. She will be greatly missed. "
"I enjoyed acting in plays with Carol! When I knew she was in the play, I knew we would have a great time on stage and behind. I miss being in plays at Mills Masquers. Last week I met Gracetapher Kirk on stage doing improv, and remembered my good times at Mills Masquers. "
"Carol Schramm I remember the first time we met. We was both in the play the homecoming. We started talking like we had been friends forever. After the play life happens and we lost touch. Then last spring you called me and asked if I could watch your grandson 2 or 3 days a week. Oh how much fun it was to watch Teddy. I looked forward to seeing you each day. I loved our visits. Oh, how you had so many interesting things you told Brady and I. He loved visiting with you. He loved showing you his trees and plants and our amazing pumpkin plant. You always made him feel special. You would tell him so many interesting things. You was so proud of your children. You told us so much about them we felt like we knew them. The tomato plants you gave me produced so many tomatoes I didn't think they would ever quit. Brady took good care of them. The mulberry and apple jelly you gave us was amazing. I know Brady had a special place in your heart cuz you would say " I thought Brady would like these. You had a special way of making everyone feel important. Your laugh , your smile, your caring heart will never be forgotten. I will miss you my friend. God always takes the best it seems like. Love you. Til we meet again. Rhonda"
"Thoughts of Carol bring a smile to my face! She enjoyed telling her friends about her family, and could inject humor into the stories she shared. We have enjoyed working with her at the Mills Masquers, sharing laughter and silliness; and working together to keep the theater in good running order. It is so hard to understand how we could be rehearsing Sunday, and having fun -- then on Monday learning that she had passed. Please accept my condolences, and know that Carol was a good friend and will be missed by many."