Patricia Irene Kramer


March 10, 1928- July 2, 2010

Born March 10, 1928 in St. Paul, Minnesota to the young parents of Theodore Goudreau and Virginia (Rooney) Goudreau, Patricia entered into this world during an era of prosperity and hope. Shortly after her birth, the stock market crashed and the Great Depression followed. At the young age of 3, her father abandoned mother and daughter, leaving them to struggle alone. Her mother Virginia found employment as an office worker for Chrysler and moved to Detroit.

Patricia learned to be independent at a young age. She explored her urban environment on foot, on bike, and on the city bus often traveling great distances from home to sit by the Detroit River. Pat loved being outside. She also had a love for music and dancing. She would often go downtown to listen to the big bands play instead of going to school. At Chrysler her mother met a man, Charles Logsdon. Pat loved Charles and told her mother to marry him. Charles became “Pop” and Pat had a father for the first time.

World War II brought a move to the military base in Pecos, Texas, where Charles was stationed. Pat didn’t like living in Pecos, but loved all of the young men in uniform. Pat met a handsome young man who was a great dancer and at the age of 17, Pat married Albert Gauthier. The young couple eventually moved back to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In Grand Rapids, Pat had two sons, Mark in 1952, and Matt in 1955. Pat and Al divorced and she soon married Ken Kramer. Her youngest son, Kurt, was born in 1957. She loved being a mother.

Ken took employment as an avionics aeronautical engineer in Southern California. Pat loved California, the orchards, the beach, camping and ski trips to the Sierra’s, and swimming in the pool in the backyard. Pat loved to travel. The life of an executive’s wife made traveling the world a reality. However, while living in Thousand Oaks, California, Pat and Ken divorced. She obtained a real estate license and began a career as a realtor.

Pat moved to Incline Village, Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in 1980. She loved hiking and the entire splendor of Tahoe. After 14 years in Tahoe, Pat had to move again.

Pat eventually ended up in Kirkland, Washington to be near her son Mark. She continued to take daily walks at her favorite park calling the turtles that lived there her turtles. She was a member of Washington Cathedral in Redmond. She maintained her independence up until July 2, 2010 when she laid down to take a nap. She died peacefully in her sleep.

She is survived by her three sons, Mark, Matt and Kurt, her brother Paul, her Sister Lynn, her grandchildren Nick, Nathan, and Linnea, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. Patricia Irene Kramer loved her family and will be missed by all.

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