Leonard H. Kraemer, 95

Leonard H. Kraemer, 95, passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2014, at Generations Assisted Living in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Leonard was the fourth of nine children born to Gustav and Anna on Oct. 10, 1918, near Concord, Neb. He lived and helped on their family farm, going to Idaho with his brother in 1938 to help on their Uncle Glen's farm in Ashton. While there, he met Gladys Garz at a church function. Returning with his brother the next year to help again with the harvest, he and Gladys decided to marry. It's all history from that point and ... on Oct. 24, 1939, he and Gladys were joined in marriage in Idaho Falls.

Leonard and Gladys were farmers at heart, and as a team stayed close to the farming community. During hard times they had to pursue other forms of employment to survive - and survive they did.

In 1945 Leonard was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years during WWII. After the Army, Leonard worked at several grain elevators until he had the opportunity of renting farmland in the Ashton area. In March 1958, Leonard and Gladys bought a farm in Paul, Idaho, and moved their family to the "Kraemer Farm." Along with their three girls, they worked the farm raising potatoes, sugar beets, grain, hay, cattle, etc. They were active in their church, along with the 4-H and school activities the girls were involved with.

Leonard and Gladys retired from the farm, but continued to help and work for and with other farmer friends. They spent their winters in Arizona enjoying the sun and making many new friends from every part of the U.S. and Canada.

In late 1996, Leonard and Gladys sold their home on the farm and moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, where they continued to be active in the community, church and activities they loved. They both quickly gained many new friends. Leonard continued to be an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum after Gladys passed.

Leonard is survived by his three daughters Gayle (Brian) Hill of Portland, Ore., Elane (Jerry) Liedtke of South Jordan, Utah, and Marty (Martha) Nett of Otis Orchards, Wash.; five grandsons Jeff (Angela) Nett, Bradford (Ariel) Hill, Jeremy (Ashley) Nett, Jerry Jr. (Kestrel) Liedtke, and Dan (Heather) Pihlstrom; 14 great-grandchildren Emily, Ellie, Aidan, Olivia, Michael, Kayden, Mason, Makinzee, Brice, Iris, Kira, Raquel, Griffin, and Marlin; great-great granddaughter, Genevieve; brother Ken, sister, Anita, three sister-in-laws; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and more Christian family and friends to count.

Special thanks to Generations Assisted Living for making sure Dad's final months, days and hours were filled with awesome care, lots of love, and laughter!!

A memorial service for Leonard will be held starting at noon on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Please visit Leonard's online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.