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Leo "Joe" Thramer

1934 - 2022

Leo "Joe" Thramer obituary, 1934-2022, Burlington, WA

BORN

1934

DIED

2022

FUNERAL HOME

Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon

1825 E. College Way

Mount Vernon, Washington

Leo Thramer Obituary

Burlington - On November 24, 2022, Leo Joseph Thramer went to meet the Lord. Just before his passing, he was surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren singing his favorite hymns. We give thanks to God for blessing us with this thoughtful, caring husband, father and papa. He was the best of men.

Leo Joseph Thramer was born in 1934 in Spalding Nebraska to Leo A. and Magdalen Thramer. When he was 3, his mother died in childbirth. In 1943 he moved with his father and brother Gene to Burlington. His sister MaryAnne stayed in Nebraska with the John Pfeifer family.

As a child he worked every summer in the fields harvesting strawberries, raspberries, beans, and bulbs. Once he turned 16, he worked in a cannery, fed the pea viners, and even commercial fished on a purse seiner. Before he graduated, Joe had saved enough money to buy a 1948 Chevy, which he later modified (split manifold with twin exhaust pipes, blue skirts and lowered in the back). He would cruise through town with his friends in 2nd gear and then tromp on the accelerator just to hear those twin pipes crack (just out of earshot of the Burlington Police).

He was a proud Tiger, graduating from BEHS in 1952. Joe loved basketball; as a sophomore he played on the first team in school history to qualify for the state tournament. Though they didn't place that year, the following year was even better, placing 5th in state.

Joe went to work for the Skagit Valley Telephone Company, accepting a temporary job cutting Mount Vernon over to dial tone (replacing the old system of operators and switch boards). At the same time, he purchased a 20-acre parcel of land on Bow Hill. He then bought a small house located behind the church in Bow and had it moved onto the property.

One Saturday night at the Skagit Valley Grange he noticed a beautiful girl from Anacortes, whose dance card was quite full. He worked up enough courage to ask her to dance, she said "yes," and they danced together the rest of the night (and then for the rest of their lives together).

On July 31, 1955, Joe and Darlene were married. They moved into the house on Bow Hill and got very busy, raising 5 children. The original house was too small for a growing family, so Joe built a total of 7 additions over the years. When finished, the house was quadrupled in size, had a large garage and several out-buildings.

Joe enjoyed his family vacations every summer, sometimes a camping trip to dig razor clams in Copalis, other times a fishing trip to Sheridan Lake in Canada. He also loved saltwater fishing and took his family to Point-No-Point to catch salmon.

Joe retired from GTE in 1992 at the age of 58, finally completing the "temporary" job he began over 38 years earlier. Talk about commitment. Often a telephone company truck was sighted near Edison Elementary or BEHS during his kids' sporting events or performances. Joe claimed that he was there to make sure that the school's phone lines were operational at all times.

Joe and Darlene loved to travel, enjoying extended trips to the Hawaiian Islands with friends. Ultimately, they became "snowbirds" and enjoyed winters in sunny Arizona, first in Apache Junction and then in Mesa. Friends and family visited often to soak up the sun and play a rousing game of Mexican Train, Aggravation or Trenochle (a variant of pinochle that Joe created). "Bid your hand" was Joe's way of saying "be proud of what you've got - don't sell yourself short."

Joe and Darlene loved to square dance and round dance and belonged to the Fidalgo Fogcutters for many years. They practiced on a custom dance floor that Joe built in the garage.

He was preceded in death by his father Leo, his mother Magdalen and his brother Eugene Thramer.

Joe was extremely proud of his family and is survived by his sister MaryAnne, his loving wife Darlene and their five children: Tom Thramer (Nancy), Gary Thramer (Colleen), Susan Crawford (Jay), Greg Thramer (Robin) and Jennifer Ellis (Jim). He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren: Katie Kirschling (Ryan), Emily Thramer (Humberto), Laura Larson (Tony) Nathan Thramer (Lisa), Carlie Crawford (Dan), Leslie Crawford (Michael), Sarah Thramer (Nick), Jessica Smith (Brad), John Ellis (Joessie), Luke Ellis and Benjamin Ellis. Two great-grandchildren: Gavin and Kellen Kirschling.

A memorial service will be held on Friday December 9th at 1 pm at St. Charles Catholic Church in Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe's name to Hospice of the Northwest.

Please visit www.hawthornefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest registry.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Skagit Valley Herald from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Leo Thramer

Sponsored by Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon.

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Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Louis and Cristina Najmy

Planted Trees

Alan Hall

December 19, 2022

I remember my first day of work at Washington Telephone Company (later Contel) when Joe walked up to me and gave me a firm handshake, a smile and a friendly greeting. During the 30 years that I worked at the telephone company Joe would always greet me in the same manner when our paths crossed.
Thank you, Joe for helping make Contel an enjoyable place work.

RoseAnn Thramer

December 11, 2022

Dear Thramer Family, I am so sorry to hear about your great loss. I met and stayed with Joe and your beautiful Family back in 1983 when I went to visit WA. It was easy to love Joe as well as all of you. I loved seeing you all over the years at the reunions but of course, it just wasn’t often enough. I still have wonderful memories of my stay and how welcoming, warm and loving Joe was. What a Godly role model and I am forever blessed to have been able to have our paths meet. Until we meet again, Joe. ❤

Vicky Carrisales-Gonzales

December 9, 2022

I’m sorry for your loss. Joe was a good man, good husband, good father and a great neighbor. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Until we meet again, rest in peace.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-8
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.”

Connie Carter

December 7, 2022

Thramer family, my heartfelt condolences on losing a great man. I had the privilege to not only know the family while growing up, but running across Joe and Arne Richter as they worked together servicing some of the businesses I've worked at. Joe always had a smile on his face and kind words. My heart is with you in prayer.

Dennis Thompson

December 6, 2022

Wonderful man in every respect. Contel was lucky to have him; we were lucky to have known him.

Dan Howell

December 4, 2022

Teresa (Watkins) Eddings

December 4, 2022

Thank you for swinging me around the dance floor on your feet when I was a little kid and teaching me how to dance, and for being a great man ❤

Single Tree

Dan & Kathleen Watkins

Sent Flowers

Randy & Marcia Carter

December 3, 2022

Dear Darlene and family,
Randy and I are so sorry to hear that Joe has passed away! And we are so sorry that we will not be able to attend Joe´s Memorial Service. We are out of town. Please know, you are all in our prayers for comfort and peace!! One day we will all be together again in Heaven.
God Bless and Keep You Always,
With all Our Love and Sympathy,
Randy & Marcia Carter

DALE JENKINS

December 2, 2022

I never knew a nicer man.

Judy Gilbert

December 2, 2022

Best neighbors ever!
Rest In Peace in Gods arms Joe.
Judy Gilbert

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 results

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Memorial Events
for Leo Thramer

Dec

9

Memorial service

1:00 p.m.

St. Charles Catholic Church

Burlington, WA

Funeral services provided by:

Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon

1825 E. College Way PO Box 398, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

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