Jane Cramer

Jane R. Merchlewitz - Cramer, 85, died on Friday, February 20, 2026 at Aviva River Bend Senior Living in Rochester, MN after fighting the good fight with dementia. Jane was born on September 14, 1940, in Winona, MN to John and Ruth (Kangel) Bergaus. As a young girl, the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska where her father worked on the Alaskan Railroad. They lived in a Quonset Hut and later homesteaded. Jane moved back to Winona after her sophomore year and excelled in her studies and was initiated into the National Honor Society and was a member of the F.H.A. and the Civil Air Patrol. Jane graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1958. Upon graduation she became the secretary for the President of Merchant's National Bank in Winona.

Jane married Larry Merchlewitz on October 24, 1959, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. Larry's father had also worked on the Alaskan Railroad where they first met when Jane was four and Larry was seven in 1944. In 1958 they saw each other at a dance in Winona when Larry was on leave from the Air Force. Larry, in his uniform, saw her and said, "aren't you little Janie Bergaus and lifted her up and spun her around"!

Jane and Larry lived in Eyota from 1966 - 1972 before purchasing a farm in rural Eyota to raise crops, hogs, and cattle. They enjoyed going on yearly camping trips, snowmobiling Poker Run's, hitting the Eyota American Legion on Friday nights and having regular get togethers playing cards with lifelong friends and neighbors. Jane and Larry had a yearly "Merchlewitz Corn Feed" for friends and family where fun was had by all.

Jane was an excellent homemaker who raised her four children while also working at St. Mary's Hospital as an SOS secretary and especially enjoyed working in the Chaplains Department. She also worked at the All-American Co-op in Eyota, RCTC, Braun Intertec, and Eastwood Bank.

Jane enjoyed gardening, playing 500, cooking, camping, fishing, and spending time with her family. Jane was an award-winning archer. She was involved at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Altar Society, St. Anne's Group, and taught Catechism. Jane also participated in the Rural Robin's Homemakers Group.

Larry died on July 12, 1992.

Jane later moved to Rochester and then Winona, where she married Donald Cramer on March 6, 1999. Jane and Don traveled extensively on cruises and were snowbirds in AZ where Jane also learned Swedish Weaving. Don died on October 29, 2018.

Jane is survived by her four children: Vicki Merchlewitz, Algona, IA, Valerie (Bob) Amend, Massillon, OH, Diane Michuda, LaCygne, KS, Jim (Mindy) Merchlewitz, Woodbury, MN, and Sharon (Jerry) Benike, Chatfield, MN; her grandchildren: Hudson and George Rayburn, Michael (Erin), Matthew, Mark (Emily) and Marguerite Fakler, Nick, Andrew and Shannon Michuda. Joe, Jake, Morgan and James Merchlewitz. Her Great Grandchildren: Quinn, Freddy, Luke and Clare Fakler. Her siblings Marie Dambach and John (Pat) Bergaus. In laws: Doris Haney, David Duellman and Don Merchlewitz and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Larry Merchlewitz, second husband Donald Cramer, in-laws Karl Dambach, George (Joni) Merchlewitz, Louise Merchlewitz, Gladys Duellman, and Francis Haney.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday February 27, 2026, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (18 W. 2nd Street, Eyota, MN), with Father Jonathan Fasnacht presiding. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery. Schad and Zabel Funeral Homes of Eyota are handling arrangements.