A UD Love Story: David & Anita Kramer

Anita and David Kramer's love story began in high school. What started as shy smiles and quiet moments in band soon grew into a gentle, steady connection. They didn't know it then, but they were becoming the kind of high school sweethearts whose bond would follow them into every chapter of life. And when their paths eventually led them both to the University of Dubuque, their young romance followed too.

David Kramer (C'91) arrived at UD first, recruited by Coach Jon Davison (C'61) to play basketball and golf while pursuing a biology degree with dreams of wildlife management and a future with the Department of Natural Resources.

Anita Gerdes (C'93) transferred from a larger university, choosing UD because, as she put it, "UD felt more like home and David was there." She majored in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice.

On campus, their days began to weave naturally together. After David's games, they spent evenings side by side, and once his basketball career ended, they commuted to UD together from Monticello, Iowa. They filled the hours between classes studying in the library, relaxing in Peters Commons, and completing work study hours in the Admissions Office.

After graduating, Anita and David returned to Monticello, where David began full-time work in the family business, Kramer Brothers Dairy Supply. The couple also bought a farm and planted 5,500 trees. Anita began working in juvenile probation in Jones County before she transitioned to the Juvenile Court Liaison position in the high school. She ultimately found her place with Kirkwood Community College, teaching and testing at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.

On Christmas Eve of 1992, David gave Anita a Chicago Bulls sweatshirt, a team she absolutely couldn't stand. She opened it, unimpressed, until he insisted she try it on. When she picked the discarded sweatshirt off the floor, she discovered a ring box tucked inside the pocket. It was then she realized she had tossed aside her engagement ring. She still has the sweatshirt, though she has never worn it.

Anita and David were married on May 14, 1994, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Monticello, with a reception at the Monticello Community Building. A cool, misty spring day made the photos memorable, especially for the bridesmaids, whose dyed purple shoes turned their feet purple in the wet grass. With Anita's family catering, a DJ spinning music, and loved ones gathered around, the celebration was filled with joy and stories that still make them smile. They never went on a honeymoon, though both still talk about their dream trip: Anita imagines a warm beach, and David envisions a moose hunt.

Today, they are proud parents of three children: Darby Marie, pursuing her doctor of philosophy in astrophysics; Daltyn Stuart, helping alongside David in the family business; and Drucilla Maye, working as an accountant at a CPA firm. UD has remained a family tradition as well, with nephews Hunter Kramer (C'25) and Bo Kramer, a current UD student, both going through the aviation program.

As their family grew, so did the community around them, many of whom came from their years at UD. For years, Anita and David reunited during March Madness with close UD friends Scott (C'93) and Ann Feuerbach, Dale (C'92) and Lisa Sperfslage, and Chad (C'92) and Vickie Specht to watch basketball and reminisce about their college adventures. Though life and distance have scattered the group, those gatherings remain a treasured reminder of the friendships their UD days brought into their lives.

In their free time, Anita enjoys walking and spending time with family and friends, while David loves hunting, being outdoors, and golfing with their children. They also enjoy traveling to Arizona to visit Darby as often as possible. Anita plans to retire from Kirkwood Community College in June, and David hopes to retire in about a year and a half. They typically celebrate their anniversary with dinner, unless life gets too busy, but that beach vacation or moose hunt remains on their shared list of hopes for the future.

From high school hallways to UD classrooms, from a Bulls sweatshirt proposal to a lifetime of marriage, Anita and David's love has flourished with the same quiet joy it began with. And through every chapter, UD has stayed woven into their story, a place their hearts return to with gratitude and fondness.