Gloria Kay Schramm Nelson, 87, St. Cloud

July 24, 1928 - January 12, 2016

Gloria Kay Schramm Nelson, age 87, St. Cloud, MN, died Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at St. Benedict’s Senior Community.

A prayer service will be held Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 2:30 PM at Atonement Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN. A full memorial service will be held later in June of this year in St. Cloud. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.

Gloria was born July 24, 1928 in Cokato, MN to Earl J. and Minnie (Lundahl) Nelson. She graduated from Cokato High School in 1946. Gloria worked a variety of jobs, putting herself through Macalester College in St. Paul, graduating on June 4, 1951. On June 7, 1951 she married Earl “Hummer” Schramm, and moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where Hummer received his Masters degree. The family resided in Rocky Ford, CO, Waseca, MN, Faribault, MN and St. Cloud, MN, where she was active in church and community affairs and met many lifetime friends. Gloria also traveled extensively with her family including many camping trips. Hummer died on January 15, 1997. In 2002 Gloria married Wyman Nelson, whom Gloria had known since grade school in Cokato. They traveled as well. Wyman died on December 28, 2015.

Gloria was active in Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud for over 50 years, serving on the Church Council, Altar Committee, Synod Nominating Committee, and supervised Sunday School classes. She also served her community as an active volunteer or member of Red Cross, United Way, St. Cloud Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library, PEO, Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls.

Gloria was an eternal optimist, had a great sense of humor, loved music, possessed a natural curiosity about the world, and supported education throughout her life.

Gloria is survived by daughters, Jo Ellen (Bill) Schramm Axness of Minneapolis, MN; Beth Ann Schramm of Lexington, VA; Sara Jane Schramm of St. Cloud, MN; step children, Michel (Rebecca) Nelson of Carroll, IA; Mark (Mona) Nelson of Duluth, MN; Wade Nelson of Fort Myers, FL; and Rhonda (Jeff) Menken of Dassel, MN; 12 step grandchildren and several step great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Earl “Hummer” Schramm and Wyman Nelson, brother, Earl Nelson.

Memorials are preferred to Atonement Lutheran Church Legacy Fund or Donor’s Choice.