Sylvia "Sibi" Kraemer

Sylvia “Sibi” Kraemer, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024, surrounded by family. She was an amazing wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, and Christian friend who meant the world to us and will be greatly missed. We are comforted by the fact that her passing, albeit sudden, was peaceful and enabled her to spend Christmas with her dear husband. Born in San Antonio, Texas on April 29, 1945, to Harvey and Martina Eckhardt, Sibi became a child of God through Baptism on July 8, 1945, and re-affirmed her faith through Confirmation on May 17, 1959. Sibi graduated with honors (and a year early) from San Antonio’s Thomas Edison High School in 1962, where she was a member of the Honey Bears Pep Squad. She graduated from Texas Lutheran University in 1966, where she met the love of her life, Donald “Don” Kraemer and married him on November 24, 1966. They formed a loving partnership lasting over 55 years that included raising two children together, Brett and Erika, and shaping the lives of 5 adoring grandchildren. After graduating in 1966, and with Don still in college, Sibi began her teaching career in Seguin and later in Austin and Huntsville, teaching 4th graders and 6th grade English. Sibi left teaching to be a full-time stay-at-home mother to her two children until their high school years. At that time, she went back to working outside the home as the administrative assistant for Faith Lutheran Church, as well as teaching at Faith Lutheran School. In addition to shaping and influencing young minds, both in schools and in the home, community involvement was a significant aspect of Sibi's life since moving to Huntsville. Her servant’s heart included involvement in many aspects of Faith Lutheran Church and School, where both her and Don were significant influences in its growth and formation respectively – Choir, Sunday School teacher, youth adult leader, Altar Guild and current president of the church ladies circle to name a few. In the broader community she spent many years involved in the Huntsville Junior Service League; was a former board member of the Westridge Property Owners Association; an active and proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and an avid volunteer for Meals On Wheels. Sibi loved spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, camping, spending time at the family’s lake house on Lake LBJ, watching football (including being a lifelong season ticket holder for the Huntsville Hornets) and yard work (she often mowed the entire acre herself until her last days). Recently, after Don’s passing, she became part of a Friday night group of ladies, affectionately called the Friday Night Girls, where she made new friends and even closer friendships with longtime friends in the community. Sibi was always the “host”, having most of breakfast “precooked” before the grandkids even woke up; serving a perfect “meat and cheese platter” at the first sign of a gathering on the family’s back porch; and making tons of appetizers and putting up with a bunch of teenagers sleeping on her living room floor as part of a New Years Eve tradition! Those who knew and loved Sibi have described her and will remember her as: “kindhearted”; “loving and encouraging”; “true definition of a loving and accepting human”; “strong in her faith”; and someone whose “hug and greeting could turn your day around.” Sibi was preceded in death by her husband – Donald Kraemer, father - Harvey Eckhardt, mother – Martina Eckhardt, and brother – Dennis Eckhardt. She is survived by her two children - Brett Kraemer (wife Rachel) and Erika Kaufman (husband Tim), 5 grandchildren - Andrew Kraemer, Julia Kraemer, Hayden Kaufman, Jace Kaufman and Parker Kaufman and her brother – Cletus Eckhardt and sister – Shirley Bohmann. A memorial service and reception to celebrate Sibi Kraemer’s life will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, Huntsville, Texas. A light lunch reception will follow. The service will be livestreamed on YouTube.com. Search “Faith Lutheran Church Huntsville Texas”. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask you to consider Memorial donations made in Sibi's name to: Texas Lutheran University’s Benard and Ethel Kraemer Scholarship at 1000 West Court Street, Seguin, Texas 78155 or at www.tlu.edu/give-to-tlu [Select “Gift Allocation – Annual Scholarship Fund” then note “Benard and Ethel Kraemer Scholarship in “Other Gift Allocation” field.] Faith Lutheran Church and School at 111 Sumac Road, Huntsville, Texas 77340 or at www.faithhuntsville.org/give Memorial condolences to the family may be made at www.shmfh.com.

Sylvia "Sibi" Kraemer

April 29, 1945 - December 22, 2024