ROGER GRAMS

Roger Grams, formerly of East Bethel and Mora, MN, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at North Memorial Hospital.  He was 94 years old.

Roger Edward Grams was born December 12, 1928 at home to Edwin and Alice (Stoeckel) Grams in Stanford Township near Crown, MN.  His grandma was the mid-wife.  He attended six years of grade school at District 8; walking two miles every day, one way.  He attended 7th and 8th grades at Crown Christian Day School.  He then went to St. Francis High School where he played baseball and basketball; graduating in the top 10 of his class.

After graduating he worked for farmers; Ray Stoeckel and John Spier.  He then went to work for Northrup King, Northwestern Upholstery, Ford Motor Company, Levon Upholstery and Clover Leaf Creamery in the Twin Cities Area. 

He married Charlene Werner in 1951 and went into the Navy CBs as he was called to active duty in 1952.  He spent 13 months in Aleutian Chain, Adak, Alaska. He was then sent to Subic Bay in the Philippines.  He was discharged in Spring of 1954.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, he and Charlene built a three-bedroom home in Northeast Minneapolis and started raising their family.  He worked for Cloverleaf Creamery and during that time, he attended Dale Carnegie Sales Institute and did upholstery on the side.  He continued to grow the part-time upholstery business and eventually, he opened his own shop, Luxury Upholstery in Northeast Minneapolis.

In 1968 Roger and Charlene bought 55 acres in East Bethel, built a four-bedroom home and relocated his upholstery shop there.  All of their children graduated from St. Francis High School.  He was a Councilman and Mayor of East Bethel for 17 years and he was a member of the East Bethel Fire Department for 20 years.  He and his friends started playing slow pitch softball in East Bethel which grew into two leagues in the neighboring cities.  On July 4, 1990, his wife Charlene suddenly passed away.

In 1991, he met and married Vera Abbott from McGregor, MN.  They bought a home on Knife Lake near Mora, MN where he continued to upholster.  They did lots of snowmobiling and traveling and in 2001, purchased a park-model home in Seminole, Florida where they spent the winter months.  There he was president of the park and was also president of the social club for seven years.  After 17 years on Knife Lake, Roger and Vera moved to the Town of Mora in an accessible home with no stairs/steps and in 2019 sold that home to reside at GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge.  Roger felt he was very blessed and lived a good life.

Roger was preceded in death by his first wife Charlene; parents Edwin and Alice Grams; brothers Gene (Judy) Grams and Marlyn Grams and sister Deloris (William) Mayland.

He is survived by his wife Vera; children Cynthia (Jim) Gmach, Randy (Sandy) Grams, Wendy Grams; stepsons Bruce (Fran) Abbott and Gary (Kari) Abbott; grandchildren Graham (Alli) Gmach, Garrett (LisaMarie) Gmach and Kelsey Grams; 7 great-grandchildren; brother Bernie (Jan) Grams; sisters Val Jean Grams and Connie (Russ) Benson; Sister-in-Law Pat Murphy; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes – Akkerman Chapel in Mora.  Chaplain Chuck Knutson will officiate. 

Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. 

A Private Family Inurnment will be at the Morningside Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Coon Rapids, MN. 

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