Monica Joan Kramer, age 72, died peacefully on March 21, 2026, hours after receiving the sacraments of both Holy Communion and Reconciliation. Monica was born on November 1, 1953 to Wayne and Eloise (Karn) Kramer. She grew up on a ranch in the sandhills outside of Stapleton, NE and was especially close with her maternal grandparents, Nick and Lizzie Karn. Monica married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Randy Kramer, on July 29, 1978. They were blessed with three children, Moriah Elizabeth, Nathan Nicholas, and Joshua Joseph. Monica remained a devoted wife, even after Randy died in 2016. While his death broke her heart, it brought her great joy to reminisce about her memories with him, and she constantly prayed they would be reunited in heaven one day.
Monica graduated from Stapleton Public Schools in 1972. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Chadron State College. She then taught at Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Paul, NE, and also at McDaid Elementary, North Platte Catholic Schools in North Platte, NE. She completed Masters Degrees in both Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, and a Specialist Degree in School Psychology, all through the University of Nebraska Kearney.
After teaching second grade at North Platte Catholic Schools, she worked as a school counselor for North Platte Public Schools. In total she worked with children for over 48 years. Monica was also a licensed mental health practitioner and worked for the Lutheran Family Services before opening her own practice, Monica Kramer Counseling Services. She remained active in her practice up to the last day of her earthly life. Through her education and counseling careers, Monica intently impacted thousands of lives.
Monica believed her primary purpose in life was evangelizing. She desired more than anything to share her Catholic faith and to spread Jesus' love to all that she could! She was active in the Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) and sponsored several adults joining the Catholic Church. In recent years, she developed a passion for authoring books and published the following works: Not All Who Wander Are Lost, Eucharist, and The Children's Book of Virtues, which she co-wrote with Fr. Vidya Sagar Arikotla. She most recently completed her book My Road to Emmaus: Walking With Jesus Through Suffering, which her family will be publishing soon in her memory.
Monica loved to travel with family and friends, both nationally and internationally. Her international travels included: Germany and Rome with her mother, Eloise, Germany and Austria with her husband, Randy, the Scandinavian countries and Italy with her daughter, Moriah, Poland, and two pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Monica had a beautiful voice, and was well-known for singing and playing the guitar. In her younger years, she gave guitar lessons to numerous children. She especially loved providing music for Mass, and was able to do this with her mother, Eloise, and daughter, Moriah, as well as with many friends. Many of her former students remember her for leading them in programs for the holidays, often at the Pawnee Hotel and the Neville Center.
Monica adored her grandchildren and could often be found attending their sporting events, music concerts, and theatre productions. She was an avid fan of St. Pat's Irish athletics and activities. She loved helping the younger grandchildren work on reading and writing, and enjoyed putting on shows and plays with them, with their parents usually being the audience! She loved each of her children and grandchildren fiercely and they could always count on a warm smile and hug from her. She was incredibly devoted to the Blessed Mother, and prayed countless Rosaries for her family, friends, and all those she loved.
Monica is survived by her daughter, Moria (Brendan Lynes) and her children Elise and Jase, her son, Nathan (Tricia) and their children Lane, MacKena, and Bristol, her son, Joshua (Jennifer) and their children Peyton, Randi, Emma, and Christian; siblings Chris Harvey, Matt Kramer, and Jerome Kramer; and sister-in-law, Deanna McDonald.
Monica was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Katie Kramer, her parents-in-law Harold and Juanita Kramer, and two infant siblings, Anthony Kramer and Cecelia Kramer.
Memorials may be made to North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment or to the donor's choice.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in North Platte, NE with Reverend Vidya Sagar Arikotla as celebrant, and the Reverends Reggie Urban, Mark Seiker, and many others as concelebrants. Christian Wake Service will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Inurnment will be Monday, March 30, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at St. John's Cemetery in Stapleton, NE.
Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, NE is in charge of arrangements.