Penny Kramer

KRAMER, PENNY LOU Penny Lou (Root) Kramer, 62, died unexpectedly on June 26, 2021, ay Mercy Health Hospital in Muskegon, MI. She was born on January 8, 1959, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the child of L.D. Nelson Root and Phyllis Alegra (Durkee) Wemple. Penny will be remembered as a mother, grandmother, sister, and by many, a dear friend. Anyone that had the chance to get to know her will tell you her smile was always big, even while enduring personal pain; her attitude was always sassy; and her ability to make people feel like they mattered, no matter who they were, will always be one of her most enduring qualities. If you ever met her, even once, you knew that she would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, even if that meant she had nothing left for herself. Penny loved her family. She adored her grand-children and would brag about them to anyone that would listen. She liked playing Bingo, crossword puzzles, watching trashy, day-time TV talk shows, eating cheesy popcorn, and butter on everything was a must. Over the last few years, her evening chats with her good friend, Jack, were the highlight of her day. In addition to her parents, Penny was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Mark Kramer; son, Mark Daniel Van’thof; brother, Nelson (Nick) Root; and step-father, Robert (Bob) Wemple. Surviving her is her daughter, Samantha (Van’tHof) Rostad of Wayland, MI; son, Michael Van’tHof Jr. Of Holland, MI; sister, Lin (Jim) Stanford of Greenville, MI; brother, Mark Root of Greenville, MI; three grandchildren, Rylie, Miles and Charlie Rostad; and several nieces, nephews, family members and special friends. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Those who wish to remember Penny in a special way are encouraged to make donations in her memory to The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas TX, 75284-0692, or via their website at www.heart.org.