Thomas Kramer Obituary

Dr. Thomas Frère Kramer, 94, a native and life-long resident of St. Mary Parish, died peacefully at his home on the morning of September 6, 2023. Dr. Kramer is survived by his wife of 60 years, Glenna; one daughter Adriane Frère Kramer, and one granddaughter, Amoret Frère Evans, both of Franklin; and one grandson, Thomas George Kramer of Slidell, Louisiana. He is also survived by two nephews, Joe Hart Dixon, Jr and Thomas Kramer Dixon, both of Monroe, Louisiana, one niece, Mrs. David (Adele) Buntin of Nashville, Tennessee, and his cousin Erin McNulty of Clermont, Florida. Dr. Kramer was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Foster Kramer (Emma Adele Frère), and by his only sister, Mrs. Theo Adele Kramer Dixon, a brother-in-law, Joe Hart Dixon of Monroe and a son-in-law James Parham Evans IV of Franklin. His premedical studies were at Louisiana State University and he was a graduate of the Tulane University School of Medicine. At both institutions he was a member of various social and honorary organizations including Delta Kappa Epsilon, Eta Sigma Phi, Alpha Phi Omega, and Phi Chi. He served in the U.S. Air Force in England, where he attained the rank of major. Dr. Kramer was a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, and during his thirty-five years of practice he delivered four thousand babies. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served as a president of the St. Mary Parish Medical Society, as a Chief of Staff of Franklin Foundation Hospital and was a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Southern Medical Society. During his medical career he published articles in three medical journals.

Active in the civic life of the community, Dr. Kramer served as a president of the St. Mary Chapter of the Louisiana Landmarks Society, and for twelve years was on the council of the Shadows-on-the-Teche, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He and his wife hosted the annual conference of the Louisiana Preservation Alliance in Franklin in 1996. Dr. Kramer served on the board of the Tulane Medical Alumni Association, as an officer in the Franklin Rotary Club for many years and on the St. Mary's Episcopal Church vestry. He served on the Executive Board of the Evangeline Area Council, Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. In 1975, he was king of the Krewe of Sucrose, a carnival organization in which he later served as a captain. He was a board member of the Louisiana State Museum and also of the Teche Federal Bank. He was a member of the Boston Club of New Orleans. In 1993 Dr. Kramer received an award in appreciation of outstanding service to the citizens of Louisiana. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, Boy Scouts of America also in 1993. In 1995 he was given the Golden Service Award from the West St. Mary Chamber of Commerce. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Golden Star award for 58 years of membership in the Rotary Club of Franklin. Together with his wife, he was honored with the George Thomson Lifetime Achievement Award for Preservation by the City of Franklin, the St. Mary Landmarks Historic Preservation Award and awards from the Louisiana Preservation Alliance and the Franklin Historic District Commission. Dr. Kramer was "Best Dressed on the Teche" in 2000 and king of the Black Bear Festival in 2006. He received the St. Mary Parish Distinguished Citizen Award in 2010. In 2013 Dr. Kramer and his wife were honored as Philanthropists of the Year by the Community Foundation of Acadiana. In 2022 they received a Certificate of Special Recognition from the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation and the Lifetime Achievement Award from St. Mary Chapter of Louisiana Landmarks Society "in grateful recognition of their years of devotion to this community and parish." In addition to his medical publications, Dr. Kramer published a work on the antebellum houses of the Franklin area and a comprehensive genealogy book. Together with professional accomplishments and civic contributions should be added his contributions to the joy and sense of fun for those around him. He never wanted to miss a good party nor a good martini. He had a ridiculously funny sense of humor, loved to costume for Mardi Gras and holidays and was a good sport when the joke was on him. He was a boon traveling companion, traveled extensively with his wife and friends, and would go anywhere and look under every rock. He loved his daughter "A Baby", and he was fiercely loyal to old friends. Nothing pleased him more than to run into one of the grown up babies that he had delivered – in his heart they were always his. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary's Episcopal Church with Rev. Stephen Crawford officiating. Interment will be held privately in the Franklin Cemetery on Tuesday. A gathering of family and friends will be held Sunday, September 10th, at Ibert's Mortuary in Franklin from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue Monday morning at the church at 10:00 AM. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert's Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main St., Franklin, LA 70538.