Dr. Rammer, Jr.

Dr. Martin A. Rammer, Jr., 79, passed away peacefully with his three children at his side in Sarasota, FL on Tuesday, August 20, 2013. "Marty" was born on May 20, 1934, to Holdiena (nee Zutz) and Martin A. Rammer, Sr. in Sheboygan, WI. A life-long learner, Marty attended Immanuel Lutheran School, graduated from Sheboygan Central High School in 1952 and earned a scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He completed his Medical Science (BS) in 3 years graduating in 1955 while concurrently earning multiple "W"s playing golf on the UW-Madison golf team and as a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. In 1959 Marty earned his Doctor of Medicine from UW-Madison. Dr. Rammer completed his rotating internship at Philadelphia General Hospital in 1959-60 and later returned to Madison General Hospital for additional training in General Surgery until 1961. In 1961 Marty joined the US Army Medical Corps attaining the rank of Captain while completing Medical Field Service School at Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX and then spent 1961-1963 at the US Army Medical Clinic in Worms, Germany. In 1963, Marty returned to the United States and continued his service to his country at Brook AFB (TX) attending the Aerospace School of Medicine. He was promoted to Chief Emergency & Operating Services, Aircraft Accident Investigator and was also an Instructor at the Army Flight Surgeon's School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, a position he served from 1964-1965 with an honorable discharge. In 1965 Marty returned to Sheboygan and went into private family medical practice at the Family Medical Center. Dr. Rammer was the President of the NE Wisconsin Family Physicians (1974-1975) and Chief of Staff at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital (1982-1984). He was awarded the Fellow American Academy of Family Physicians in 1975, joined the American Board of Family Physicians in 1977 and cared for more than 3,000 patients until he joined the Aurora Sheboygan Clinic where he worked until his retirement in 1996. Marty's personality radiated among all who knew him. He saw the good in people despite his own shortcomings and worked every day - one day at a time. Marty was jovial, funny, caring, respectful, a true gentlemen with impeccable manners who genuinely cared about people. Marty loved to travel and meet new people and understand new perspectives through the lens of history. He traveled throughout most of the 50 United States and 30+ countries internationally. Marty was preceded in death by his parents, Martin and Holdiena, a sister Joanie, favorite uncles and aunts and very dear friends. Marty loved and cared deeply about his family and is survived by his three children - all of Sheboygan, daughter Jory (Lance) Van Pietersom, grandson Ryan and a great granddaughter Evelynn; daughter Jill Gustafson and grandchildren Hannah and Stephen and a great granddaughter, Natahlia; and one son Trent A. Rammer and granddaughters Natasha and Katya. Marty is also survived by his brother, Robert "Butch" Rammer (Marge) of Chandler, AZ and his ex-wives of 9 and 41 years respectively, Sharon Frank of Coquille, Oregon and Mary Lou Rammer of Sheboygan. Marty always taught his children and grandchildren to try harder, do better, think smarter and reach farther while encouraging each to strive to be the best they could be within their own abilities. Over the years, Marty was a member of the 1907 Club, First United Lutheran Church, the National W Club, the UW Alumni Association, Beta Theta Pi, the American Medical Society, the Sheboygan Downtown Rotary Club, Meals on Wheels (past Board Member and volunteer), the Sheboygan YMCA, Pine Hills Country Club, and throughout his life generously donated countless hours of his time, talent and provided financial contributions for the benefit of others and the communities where he lived. Marty's passion was life and living it to the fullest. He lived his dream - fully, completely and without regret. He valued people, life and liberty. He understood his place in the context of his life through his faith, he continually explored his Austrian and German ancestral roots, loved to be around people, appreciated the performing arts and music, had a keen perspective on history, loved to laugh, tell funny jokes, spend quality time with family and be silly, but also serious with his grandchildren, play golf, downhill ski (until he was 78) and fish for trout - all of these elements of his life he passed on in part and parcel to his children and grandchildren. Marty will be sorely missed by his family and friends all around the world and will be remembered by all because he forged special relationships with people, he knew your story, your family, your background and would make people at ease even in their most troubled times. In 2011, Marty continued his quest for a new life experience when he moved from Sheboygan at age 77 to Sarasota, Florida to continue his retirement. His final years in Florida were punctuated with several trips abroad to Europe, a couple of memorable cruises, a few visits to see family in Sheboygan and one final great Christmas celebration at Siesta Key, FL with his son, Trent and his granddaughters, Natasha and Katya. A private family ceremony and burial will be held on this upcoming Saturday, August 31st with a public celebration for friends commemorating Marty's life to follow at Pine Hills Country Club beginning at 5:30PM. The Rammer Family extends their gratitude and sincere thanks to those who cared for Dr. Rammer in his lifetime including his former colleagues and staff at the Aurora Sheboygan Clinic and the doctors and medical staff at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital ICU and his special friend, private nurse and companion over the last 2 ½ years, Anne Mack. In lieu of flowers, the Rammer Family requests that donations be made in Dr. Rammer's name to the following local Sheboygan County organizations which were near and dear to his heart: Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County, Bookworm Gardens, The 1907 Club and the Sheboygan County YMCA.

Private Family Service

2013-08-31