Erika Lore Krampe

Erika Lore Krampe, 88, of Baxter, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Newton Village in Newton. Her visitation will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Bethany United Church of Christ in Baxter. Immediately following her visitation her funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Christopher Hayward officiating. Burial will follow at the Bethany Cemetery in rural Baxter.
Erika was born in Stuttgart, Germany, along with her beloved twin sister Gisela, on May 29, 1935, to Otto and Emma Suffel. She grew up in Germany and later attended sewing school there. After school, Erika came to Baxter to visit her aunt. While in Baxter and barely being able to speak English she met the love of her life Armin Krampe. The couple married on August 5, 1956, and moved to the family farm east of Baxter where they raised their family together. She worked as a CNA at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Baxter until retirement.
Erika was a member of Bethany United Church of Christ and she relied on her faith to get her through tough times. She served as a custodian there for many years and she was also involved in Fidelians, Bethany Women's Fellowship group, Bethany quilters, and singing in the Senior Church Choir. Erika loved spending time with her family and cherished the times when they were all together at family functions. She also enjoyed her several trips back to Germany, any German made product, her farm kitties, her beloved dog Fritz, gardening with her vegetables and flowers, bingo nights and getting her nails done at Newton Village, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Twins games with Armin and family, and shopping with her girls and her sister.
Those left to cherish her loving memories are her children Peggy (Mark) Pavelka, Kevin (Mary) Krampe, Paulette (Bhaskar) Bailey, and Carmen Nugent; grandchildren Christopher (Emily) Krampe, Kelly (Jamesa) Krampe, Joseph (Katie) Pavelka, Jeffrey Pavelka, Alex Bailey, and Raymond Nugent; great-grandchildren Armin, Ana, Nadia, Karina, Hayden, Kinley, and Maddox; brother Herbert (Paulette) Suffel; brother-in-law Kurt Brunner; sister-in-law Marge Frohbieter; and many nieces and nephews.
Erika was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 61 years, Armin, infant son Alan, granddaughter Emma Nugent, twin sister Gisela Brunner; and sisters/brothers-in-law George and Edith Allspach, Gerald and Alice Robinson, Dale and Joann Tipton, Art and Vera Krampe, Dick Albee, and Ed Frohbieter.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Bethany United Church of Christ.
Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care has been entrusted with the care of Erika and her family.