Our beloved mom and grandma, Sylvia Jeanette Ronnei Schram died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family on April 17, 2017 at the age of 93 at the River Pines Nursing Home in Altoona, WI, where she had lived for the past year.
Sylvia, aka “Ronny” to many of the wonderful friends she met along her lifelong journey, was born September 15, 1923 on the family farm near Starbuck, MN to Josephine and Martin Ronnei. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Starbuck. Sylvia was united in marriage to Garlen Harold Schram on November 11, 1952.
Sylvia was a Veteran of World War II, where she proudly served in the Army Nurse Corps 142nd General Hospital of Calcutta, India. In her civilian life, she continued serving and healing within the nursing profession. As a Registered Nurse, she was involved with Public Health Nursing, taught Nursing at the Technical College in New Richmond, WI, opened and was the Director of Nursing of the Hammond Nursing, and retired in 1984 as the Director of Nursing from the Baldwin Nursing Home. Sylvia was always finding ways to stay active and keep up with her Norwegian heritage.
Sylvia is survived by her children, Gary Schram of Hammond, WI and Patti Schram (Guy) Palmer of Durand, WI; grandchildren, Kyle (Amy) McMahon of DePere, WI and Cody McMahon of Durand, WI; four great-grandchildren, Landon, Carter, and Alexia McMahon of DePere, WI and Harlow McMahon of Durand, WI; sister-in-law, Elaine Carlson of Woodville, WI; and many nieces and nephews.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Garlen Schram; parents, Martin and Josephine Ronnei; siblings, Joseph (Agnes), Arnold (Gladys), Casper Ronnei, Mabel (James) Barsness, Ada (Julian) Pederson, Esther (Juel) Brenden, and Marion (Urness) Larson; Garlen’s parents, Inga and Herman Schram and John Schultz; and sister-in-law, Adena (Pinkie) Reppe.
Funeral services will be Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 11:00 am at Smith Funeral Chapel with Pastor Deb Boynton officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home on Saturday. Burial will follow the service at Tramway Cemetery in Menomonie, WI with the Menomonie Veterans Honor Guard preforming military honors.