Dr. Sabine Cramer, 66, passed away suddenly at her home in Joplin, Missouri, on Sept
20, 2024.
Sabine positively influenced many people in the Joplin area, in numerous U.S. states, and in
Germany, with her unwavering cultivation of long friendships and relationships, her generosity,
and her love of cultures and languages.
Sabine was born Jan. 20, 1958, in Hamm in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She
received a degree in French and Education from the University of Siegen in 1983. She
received an M.A. in German from the University of Houston in 1985, an M.A. in
Linguistics and Semiotics from Rice University in 1987, and a Ph.D. in Germanic
Languages from the University of Texas in 1992.
Before coming to Joplin, Dr. Cramer taught at the University of Siegen (1982), the
University of Houston (1985), the University of Texas (1987-90), and Vanderbilt
University (1991-96).
From 1996 until 2015 Dr. Cramer taught German language and culture at Missouri
State Southern University (MSSU). She loved teaching, her students, and sharing her
appreciation of languages, literature, ideas, and cultures. When the German program at
MSSU was eliminated in 2015, Sabine worked as a nanny and took training to be a
phlebotomist; she eventually settled on working with the housekeeping contractors at
Kansas City University-Joplin. This position enabled her to continue to have both
flexibility and contact with university students; she met new friends among the staff
and faculty of the medical and dental schools. She had recently resigned from her
position and was anticipating a full retirement and more time to spend at her lovely
home and with her latest beloved dog, Sylvie.
Sabine practiced the arts of hospitality and good fellowship all her life, with sincere
pleasure in preparing and sharing excellent food and drink with her students and
friends. The German Club parties she hosted during her tenure at MSSU were
legendary. She began the German table (stammtisch) while there, at which students
and community members met weekly to share ideas and learn more about German
culture. She led study abroad student trips to Germany; she travelled to establish
relationships in not only Germany and France but also in Senegal and Ecuador.
More recently she hosted a “women’s club” group (which included men at times!) for
many years, again providing the opportunity for people to share good food and
conversation. She also supported the creative endeavors of others with a generous and
intelligent spirit. Sabine celebrated Christmas with many German traditions and an open
heart, which were glorious to behold and share in.
Sabine was keenly aware of the suffering of others, and she tried to ease that suffering,
at times temporarily sacrificing her own well-being. She was a compassionate caregiver
to many sick and injured over the years.
Music gave Sabine comfort and steadied her spirit. She was a singer and played guitar
and piano. Anyone who visited her house has seen the grand piano inside the door,
often covered with papers and plants – but she would push all this aside at times and
just immerse herself in playing. Her many plants and garden also gave Sabine much
pleasure and a respite – and a continued connection with old friends as she adopted
plants they no longer could care for.
She is survived by her brothers Rolf Cramer (Hamburg, Germany) and Bodo Cramer
(Berlin, Germany) and their families. Sabine hosted and mentored her nephew, Maurice
Cramer, while he attended MSSU and received his degree in computer science. Maurice
now works in Hamburg, Germany, and he and his wife and two young children
remained a vital and loving part of Sabine’s life. Her beloved dog, Sylvie, has gone to
live with Chad and Laurel Stebbins.
Inurnment will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin on Tuesday, Oct. 22. A
celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 where she usually held
her gatherings.