Isabel Maxine (Gramer) Tronson passed away on October 1, 2022, surrounded by family, at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, MN. She was born on June 3, 1929, to Harold and Agnes (Strand) Gramer originally of Crookston. Isabel was raised by her grandparents, Richard and Karoline Strand following the death of her mother in 1930.
Isabel always took joy in the simple pleasures of life. During her school years, Isabel loved to recite poetry, play music, and share in the company of her friends, many of whom remained her friends throughout her life. On August 24, 1947, she married her best friend, Walt Tronson. Walt built the couple a little, yellow house on Nelson Street where the couple lived for many years with daughters Jennifer, Janna, and Jacalyn. The family later moved to Hubbard Street where they welcomed another daughter, Joan. While many people love moving to new venues, Isabel was proud to say she lived most of her years in Sampson’s addition.
Isabel’s gentle spirit and sociable nature led her to be very involved in school activities as a PTA Room Mother, as a Trinity Church Basement Lady and in delivering toast and juice to patients as a RiverView same-day surgery volunteer. Those who knew her well also knew that she could be passionate about politics. Her childhood home on Minnesota Street was an official polling place and Isabel was proud to have served as an election judge for many years. The highlight of her political work was meeting Hubert Humphrey, however, his visit moved to second place after her opportunity to meet the King of Norway during his visit to the U.S. in her later years.
Her formal work life was spent giving to others as well, first being a “second mom” to many children as a licensed daycare provider for 10 years and then in her role in the dietary department of RiverView Hospital where she worked until her retirement. Isabel was an avid knitter, sharing her love of knitting by transforming miles of yarn into hats for new babies; booties for pastors to bring to their newest church members, and blankets for the Linus Project and the crisis program.
Isabel’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends drinking coffee, playing cards and games, having picnics, and enjoying special occasions. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she was known for her themed open houses, proudly featured once in the Grand Forks Herald. Both she and Walt lost their parents at a young age and made it their mission to cherish their time with each other and their family. A special moment for Isabel was renewing her vows with Walt on her 50th wedding anniversary in Carmel, CA with her four daughters serving as bridesmaids. Eldest grandson, Trevor, held the honor of dancing with grandma to the couple’s theme song “Sentimental Reasons” by Nat King Cole as grandpa’s Parkinson’s prevented him from dancing with his bride.
Left to carry on her legacy of love are daughters: Jennifer Hegranes; Jackie (Philip) Bertils; and Joan Tronson. Grandchildren: Trevor (Stacy) Hegranes; Chenoa (Jodi) Buck-Gritzmacher; Melinda (Peter) Eberle; Cole (Kelli) Bertils; Bianca D’Amato (Tyler Shaver); Marco Porraz (Eden Young); and Ava Lopez. Great-Grandchildren: Tearle (Kaitlyn) Buck; Jared (Emma) Buck; Nicholas Buck; Mahlah Eberle; Laura Eberle; Pyper Buck; Maya Morgan-D’Amato, Dylan Buck, Peyton Krenzel; Cassidy Hegranes; Rafe Krenzel; Eli Porraz, Annalise Porraz, Nolan Bertils, Charlize Porraz and Julian Bertils. She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Mary Gramer, Harold (Buddy) Gramer and Gloria (Gramer) Hannah; husband, Walt (2011); daughter, Janna (2005); grandchildren: Amy and Joshua Hegranes; and great-grandchild: Bodhi Billing.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN at 10:30 a.m., with a visitation one hour preceding the service. The service will be live-streamed and may be viewed by connecting to Isabel’s obituary on the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home website (www.stenshoelhouske.com).
