Bernard J. Gram
Bernard J. Gram
1927-2017
Bernard J. Gram passed away peacefully March 28, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Bernard was born in 1927 in Maryville, Missouri, to Louis and Ellen Gram. He grew up in Maryville and attended Northwest Missouri State and the University of Kansas, graduating in 1949 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
Bernard served in the Army from Aug. 1945 – Jan. 1947 as a combat engineer in Korea at the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He married Marjorie Gray at St. Mary’s Church in Maryville in 1948. They raised seven children in St. Joseph and Kansas City, and were married 66 years, until Marjorie’s passing in 2015.
Bernard worked as an engineer for Thomas Construction Company in St. Joseph and Kansas City for his entire career.
Bernard and Marjorie were founding members of Holy Family Parish. He served on the building commission for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for 24 years, as chair for 13 years. He served on the board for Concerned Care.
Bernard was an avid, lifelong fisherman and a founding member of Smithville BassMasters.
Bernard was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, and their infant daughter, Mary Ann.
He is survived by seven children: Anita Gram and spouse, Holly of Reading, Massachusetts; Joe Gram and spouse, Sabina of Goleta, California; Jane deLisser of Greenville, South Carolina; Louis Gram of Kerrville, Texas; Rose Gram of Liberty, Missouri; Mary Alumbaugh and spouse, Craig of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and Peter Gram and spouse, Stacie of Overland Park, Kansas.
Bernard is also survived by eight grandchildren: Rachel, Emmanuel & Shivaun deLisser, Lucas, Kelly & Neil Gram, and Sophie & Ian Gram, and five great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday, April 1, at 8:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 919 NE 96th Street, Kansas City, MO. A funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Maryville. Memorial contributions may be made to Immacolata Manor, 2135 Manor Way, Liberty, MO 64068. (Arrangements: Cremation Society of KS & MO, 5561 NW Barry Rd., online condolences www.kccremation. Com (816) 822-9888)
