Joan L. Cramer

Joan Cramer, 71, of Gray, died Thursday October 23, 2025, at Methodist Jenny Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Ia. Celebration of Life Services Memorial will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday October 28, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Audubon. The burial will be at Gray Cemetery in Gray, Ia. Pastor Lori Shannon and Curt Copple will officiate. Open visitation with family to receive friends will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday October 27, 2025, at the Audubon First United Methodist Church. Memorials are to the family to be determined at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.powersfh.com.

Joan Louise Axman was born January 5, 1954, in Carroll, Ia. to John Vincent Axman and Esther Louise (Newell) Axman. She graduated from Carroll High School in 1972.

On June 4, 1972, Joan married James Donald Bush in Carroll. The couple settled in Coon Rapids where Joan devoted herself homemaker and raising her children. They later moved to Storm Lake where she worked at Lake Shore Café, and she also began her caring career working at a local care center. After living in various communities, Joan and her family settled in Gray. She cared for her grandmother Maxine Newell until she passed. Joan spent several years working on the Handlos farm where she exemplified a strong work ethic and commitment to her responsibilities. In addition to time on the farm Joan served as a nurse's aide at the Friendship Home in Audubon demonstrating compassion and dedication in caring for others. Her hard work and unwavering dedication were evident throughout her professional life. Jim preceded Joan in death in 2006.

On September 17, 2011, Joan married to William Charles Cramer at the Gray United Methodist Church. Together they made their home in Gray. Joan retired from working at the Friendship Home Care Center in January 2025 after serving there for 30 years of dedicated service. Joan was committed to her community, serving on the Gray City Council and participating in the Gray United Methodist Church; she also was a member of Gray Community Betterment Club (GCBC). Joan's love for her family was evident in everything she did, and she was always going the extra mile for them.

Joan is survived by her husband Bill Cramer of Gray, Ia.; her father Jed Bengard of Dedham, Ia.; her 6 children Jason (wife Kelli) of Carroll, Ia., Tony (wife Laura) Bush of Hamlin, Ia., Wendy Bush of Greenville, S.C., Jenna Kasperbauer of Greenville, S.C. Brian (wife Sherri) Cramer of Creston, Ia. and Brad (wife Julie) Cramer of Treynor, Ia.; 15 grandchildren, Hannah Bush of Carroll Haley Bush of Carson, Ia., Zack (wife Kayla) of Wall Lake, Ia., Catlin Bush (Nate Biggart) of Jefferson, Ia., Ashlyn Bush of Panora, Ia., Nick Barbour of Des Moines, Ia. Brooke Farris of Omaha, Neb. Ashley Strasser Audubon, Ia. Cole Bush of Gray, Ia. Jasmine Bush of Greenville, S.C., Andrew Ewoldt of Carroll, Ia., Alexis Ewoldt of Carroll, Ia., Jessica (Husband Grandson) Mwanza of Lusaka, Zambia, Caleb (wife Andreah) Cramer of Athens, Tenn. and Olivia Cramer of Ames, Ia., Kaden Micah Cramer in McKinney, Texas, Sarah Nole, Samuel, Mercy, Elijah and Noah Cramer all in Treynor, Ia.; 16 great-grandchildren, Harper, Jackson, Brylan, Raelynn, Chloe, Lily, Jack, Boone, Sloane, Tripp, Olivia, Josie, Aiden, Tatum and Kash and Tavonga; two sisters, Jane (husband Tom) Hoffman of Coon Rapids, Ia. and Julie (husband Gary) Danner of Dedham, Ia.; sister-in-law Marty (husband Chuck) Petzoldt of Mason City; numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her first husband Jim Bush in 2006, her father John Axman, her mother Esther Bengard, sister, Jan Kasperbauer, brother Jed Bengard, Jr.