Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, Virginia “Jinny” May Gehrke, age 92, was welcomed into the loving arms of her Savior on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at ThedaCare At Home Hospice Residence in Appleton.
Her strong faith assured her that the first words she would hear upon entering heaven were, “Well done my good and faithful servant! Come and share your Master’s happiness.” Virginia had an unyielding faith in God, an understated strength, a quiet grace, infinite wisdom, and a loving and generous spirit. Her smile could light up a room and warm any hurting heart. She had a way of making the most everyday things fun, and a spirit of adventure that belied her age. Virginia was born on May 20, 1924 to the late Louis and Lydia (Bartel) Miller in Clintonville. She married Keith Gehrke on May 25, 1948 and the couple resided in Manawa. Virginia initially worked as a legal secretary, but then worked for many years at the ASCS office in Manawa until retirement. Virginia was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa.
Virginia is survived by her children: Kent (Vicki) Gehrke, Hortonville, and Kristin Gehrke, Appleton; three grandchildren, Lacie (Tim) Callan, Neenah; Carie (Rob) Eiting, Little Chute, and Michael (Rachel) Gehrke, Hortonville; and her five great-granddaughters: Amelia Eiting, Gabrielle and Isabelle Callan, and Julia and Luisa Gehrke. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Keith; her sisters, Margaret Cassell, Gertrude Preuss, and Marion Schroeder; her brothers, William and Marvin Miller and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
The funeral service for Virginia will be held on Friday, July 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manawa with Rev. Nathan Reichle officiating. Burial will be in Little Wolf Cemetery, Town of Little Wolf. A visitation for Virginia will be on Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 4-7 p.m. at Cline Hanson Dahlke Funeral Home in Manawa and again at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran School of Manawa.
The family wishes to thank the staff of ThedaCare At Home Hospice Residence for the loving and compassionate care shown to Virginia and the family.