Josie Ellen Cramer

Josie Ellen Ackelson Cramer (94) of Wheaton, IL, went home to her Lord and Savior on June 14, 2016. Josie was born to Gladys Leota and Cloyd Emory Ackelson on February 15, 1922, at a farm near Barney, Iowa. Josie married Albert Emery Cramer on September 21, 1951, at Deer Creek Chapel, in the Peru, IA area. Josie attended elementary and high school in Madison County, IA, graduating from Winterset High School. She then taught four years in a rural one-room schoolhouse (Harwood), one year in Peru, IA, and one year in Winterset, IA. During this time, she was converted to Christ. She attended Simpson College in Iowa and later graduated from St. Paul Bible Institute in Minnesota with a B.Th. in Missions. After a time of missionary service at Beefhide Gospel Mission in the Cumberland mountains of Kentucky, she married Albert. She graduated from Taylor University in Indiana with a B.S. in Education and from the University of Northern Colorado with a M.A. in Elementary Education. Josie spent twenty-four years in public school teaching in Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Montana. She ministered with her husband in several churches, and supported Albert in his college and seminary teaching career which led them to many states and Canadian provinces. Surviving are two daughters, Evangeline (Brian) Schock of Wheaton, IL, and Ramona (Jeff) Tucker of West Chicago, IL, and three granddaughters, Amy (Nathan) Soule, Emily Schock, and Kayla Tucker. Two sisters, Lois Sawhill, of Winterset, IA, and Marilyn Hutton, of Ankeny, IA are surviving. Josie was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Albert, as well as her parents, brothers Garland Ackelson and Wayne Ackelson, and sisters Betty Edgington and Darlene Hildreth. A memorial service will be held on July 2, 2016, at 10 a.m. at the McCalley-Collins funeral home in Winterset, IA. Burial will follow in the Peru Cemetery. Memorials gifts may be directed to The Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214 (www.gideons.org) whose mission is to distribute Bibles around the world.