Clayton L Schramm

Clayton L. Schramm, 85, went to be with our heavenly Father on October 21, 2017, surrounded by family at his home in Bismarck, after experiencing health complications. Services will be held at 11:30 am Tuesday, October 24, at Zion Lutheran Church, 413 E. Avenue D., Bismarck, with Rev. Tom Marcis Jr., officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Monday, October 23, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E. Divide Ave., Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Clayton was born in Hazen, ND, while living on the family farm north of Hazen, on September 30, 1932, to Ernest and Rose Schramm. He was the second oldest of four children. He graduated from Hazen High School in 1951. After graduation, he went to college at the State School of Science in Wapheton, ND, and received his associates degree. On June 20, 1954, he married the love of his life, Arvada Sailer, and they moved to Fort Bragg, NC, where he began his service in the military. After his honorable discharge, they packed up the Nash and moved back to Bismarck with their new baby, David. Once back in Bismarck, Clayton started his career working for MDU for 38 ½ years. He was supervisor of the Meter Department for many years. His co-workers always respected how Clayton handled the difficult situations, hence how he earned the title Mr. Cool. Classy, humorous, loyal, and faithful to his family, church, and friends, and always willing to lend a hand would begin to describe him. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for over 61 years, and served the Lord in almost every position, including Deacon, Treasurer, and President of the Lutheran Laymen's League. Like his father, he had a love for farming and raising wheat. And also like his father, he loved playing on the church bowling league. After retirement, Clayton and Arvada were able to travel around the country, and enjoyed each other so much that you rarely saw one without the other. Clayton is survived by his four children, David Schramm, Susan (Terry) Helm, Steven (Faeza) Schramm, and Bethany Unruh; grandchildren, Faith Wall, Stephanie (Michael) Little, Jeremiah Helm, Jesse (Carmen) Helm, Autumn Schramm, Joshua Unruh, and Jeremiah Unruh; brother, Lester (Virginia) Schramm; sister, JoAnn (Leonard) Becker; sister-in-laws, Alta Schramm, Lorraine Mohl, Florence (Virgil) Sailer, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Arvada; his parents, Ernest and Rose Schramm; his brother, Larry Schramm, and his nephew, Tim Schramm. The family would like to express their appreciation to Loving Hearts, LLC, for the outstanding care that Clayton received over the past two years. Rapheal and Coker, his primary caregivers,​became like family.