"Fr. Ramaeker I will forever hold a place in my heart for you and your many years is service to the Priesthood. From the time you came to Vail you were an asset to St.Anns Church. From giving me my First Holy Communion, to being my Confirmation Sponsor, and to being their for Mom\'s Funeral. The story about your Blessed Chalice with the Ring mounted on the bottom. The religious education, the youth choir, to the CYO Christmas Singing to the Shut in\'s. CYO Lasagna Dinners, Decorating the Rectory for Christmas( keeping baby Jesus tucked away till Christmas) Which I still to this day do. Your walks with Toby while you recited the rosary. Your letters and phone calls over the years will hold a place in my heart as will our friend ship. You will be missed by many, but I know that you will be watching over us all. Give them Toby\'s 1, 2, and 3 some scratches and tell Mom hello. Your message you always ended your letters with\" Let us pray for each other\". Thank You. Thank You. Dustin Miller Vail,Ia"
In loving memory of
Reverend Victor F. Ramaeker
June 17, 1935 - March 30, 2021
Mass of Christian Burial for Father Victor Ramaeker will be celebrated at 1:30 P.M. on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Whittemore with Bishop Walker Nickless celebrating and Fr. Edward Girres, Fr. Bradley Pelzel, Msgr. Kevin McCoy and Fr. Matthew Solyntjes concelebrating and Fr. Daniel Greving as homolist. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 7, 2021, from 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Humboldt, Iowa. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the Five Saints Catholic Community Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fivesaintscommunity. The graveside service will be live-streamed on the Oakcrest Funeral Services' Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/oakcrestfuneralservices MASKS ARE REQUIRED.
Fr. Victor Francis Ramaeker was born June 17, 1935, in Spalding, Nebraska, the youngest of 10 children of the late Gertrude (Smith) and Fred J. Ramaeker of Humboldt, Iowa died on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. He had suffered a heart attack on March 4, while a resident of Windsor Manor in Algona, Iowa, and was hospitalized at Kossuth Regional Health Center for a brief time. He became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society - Algona, Iowa until the time of his death.
He attended St. Michael Catholic grade school in Spalding, Nebraska, St. Joseph grade school in Carroll, Iowa, and graduated from Jefferson Public High School in Jefferson, Iowa, in 1953. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and after graduation entered the seminary at Mt. St. Bernard in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph M. Mueller at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 27, 1961.
He received a Masters Degree in Education with emphasis on administration of schools in Iowa (K thru Jr. College) from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 1969. To become fluent in Spanish, he spent the summers of 1963 and 1964 at the El Instituto Mexicano Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales in Mexico City, Mexico.
He served the Diocese of Sioux City in the following:
1961-1966 Faculty, Kuemper Catholic High School, Carroll, Iowa.
1966-1971 Principal at St. John High School, Bancoft, Iowa.
1971-1976 Superintendent-Principal of O'Gorman High School,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
1974-1976 Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Emmett, South Dakota.
1976-1991 Bishop Heelan High School, Sioux City, Iowa.
1976-1978 Academic Principal
1978-1991 Superintendent
1991-1999 Pastor, St. Ann Parish, Vail, Iowa.
1999-2017 Pastor, St. Michael's Parish, Whittemore, Iowa
He is survived by one sister, Sr. LaVerne M. Ramaeker, FSPA, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents: Fred J. and Gertrude Ramaeker, Humboldt, Iowa. His five brothers: Arthur (Grace) Ramaeker, Chicago Heights, Illinois; Andrew (Shirley) Ramaeker, Goldfield, Iowa; David (Virginia) Ramaeker, Mountain Grove, Missouri; Elmer (Jeanette) Ramaeker, Humboldt, Iowa, and Paul (Loretta) Ramaeker, Tucson, Arizona; and three sisters: Claire (Alvin) Miller, McHenry, Illinois; Sr. Mary James Ramaekers, FSPA, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Bernice (Gerald) Miller, McHenry, Illinois.
Tributes
"I have the best memories of Father Ramaeker from my time at Heelan. A great teacher, great leader, the best priest I ever knew. He was a great example of a servant leader who put others above himself. A wonderful friend and example to my family."
"My condolences & deepest sympathy. Many of us from the (GB Miller family) wish we could be there, but with the current Covid situation we are unable to attend. We are with you in spirit. God Bless! Joyce Miller-Konstantinow Gerald/Bernice?s daughter "
"Prayers for Fr Victor family"
"Prayers to Fr. family. Enjoyed when he was at St Ann?s Vail."
"My deepest sympathies and prayers to Dr. Ramaeker\'s farmily. He was such a nice man whose faith was completely visible to all who met him. Always enjoyed visiting with him when my mom (Donna Muller) would invite him for lunch when a lot of her kids were home. Rest in peace Father. "
"My deepest sympathy to Fr Ramaeker\'s family. I always enjoyed visiting with him and he was a dear friend to my mom (Donna Muller). May he Rest in Peace."
"God Bless Fr. Ramaeker! He was a kind man who would do anything for any one. We enjoyed having him in Whittemore, and especially his participation in all those \"Chili Cook-Offs!\" Truly a man of God who cared for all souls. Father will be celebrating his greatest Mass of all this year on Easter Sunday! Thank you for everything, Fr. Ramaeker. My deepest sympathies to his family. May he Rest in God\'s Eternal Peace. "