Annegret Kramer of Vail, 1940-2006
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Annegret Kramer, who survived breast cancer, congestive heart failure and thyroid problems, died in Denver General Hospital on Aug. 1 after suffering a fatal head injury in a fall near her Vail home on July 29. She was 65.
“She was such a wonderful friend of our family and she often traveled with us,” friend Phil Smiley said. “Annegret was a strong support for my late wife Jane as she battled breast cancer.”
Although born in Germany, Kramer was extremely proud of her American citizenship, and whenever patriotic music played, Smiley says, he remembers Annegret’s eyes welling with tears.
“There was no other place she wanted to live,” he says.
Close friend Ursula Fricker, who joined Annegret in a weekly tea gathering, echoed those sentiments.
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“A nature-loving person, Annegret took advantage of all that Vail had to offer,” Fricker said. “She was planning to gather mushrooms last weekend and to share them with friends.”
Kramer also cooked for friends and family, hiked, fished and traveled frequently.
“As a single mother, Annegret was a hard worker who was dedicated and determined to do the best for her kids as they were growing up,” said Connie Knight, a friend and frequent skiing companion.
Born in Wuppertal, Germany, on Sept. 23, 1940, Annegret was the youngest of five children. She moved with her family to Sommerhausen, Germany, in 1944 to escape the bombings of World War II.
As a young girl, Annegret studied business and worked for the German railroad. After living in New York for less than a year, Kramer and girlfriend traveled across the United States to San Francisco. Annegret moved to Colorado in 1962. She married and had two children, Monica and Rolf.
She worked at Stapleton International Airport in Denver from 1971 to 1988. She then moved to Vail and worked at the Sonnenalp Hotel, where she was employed until June. Until her death, Annegret was employed by Vail’s Alpenrose Restaurant Patisserie.
In addition to her children Monica Melichar of Denver and Rolf Kramer (Kathy) of Denver, she is survived by a brother, Claus Luthe, and a sister, Resy Then, of Germany, and grandchildren Solita Melichar of Denver, and Sara Kramer and Matt Kramer of Denver.
She was preceded by her parents and brothers Ewald Luthe and Norbert Luthe.
A memorial service will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Vail’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Gates will open at 10 a.m. Parking will be available at the amphitheater parking lot and at the Vail parking garage.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends have established a fund at the FirstBank of Vail to buy a memorial for Kramer at the Vail Memorial Park. Donations may be made at any FirstBank or sent to FirstBank of Vail, 17 Vail Road, Vail, Co. 81657.
Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado
