VIRGINIA J. IRWIN

    Virginia J. Irwin, 87, Burlington, died May 23, 2014, at Kindred Health and Rehab in Burlington.

She was born in Burlington on March 24, 1927, to the late Carl and Florence (Mather) Remer. She spent her early life in Burlington where she graduated from Burlington High School before attending Business School in Milwaukee for one year.

She lived in Waterford where she was a secretary for Waterford Graded School for many years. She was a member of First Congregational Church in Rochester and the president of the Resident Council of Kindred Health & Rehab. She was an avid Packers and Brewers fan and often decorated her room according to the sport season.

She was a loving and giving person who always kept a positive attitude. She loved to be outside and when she was younger she had a huge garden where she canned and froze enough food for her family of seven for a whole year. She enjoyed camping, dancing and riding her bike before she was diagnosed with MS. In summer she would take walks in her electric wheelchair to various restaurants for a meal out. She loved ice cream and would stop for a treat on her way back. She enjoyed watching the flowers grow in the gardens her children would plant for her. She belonged to a bridge and sheepshead card club and was able to continue playing sheepshead after she moved to Kindred. She stayed active after moving there by reading the newspaper to residents; playing Mrs. Claus where she took phone calls from children, and was known as the ‘mail lady’ because she loved delivering the mail to the residents.

Survivors include her children, Tom (Latisha) Irwin, of Newbury Park, Calif., and their children, Dawn (Chad) Nichols, Newbury Park, Calif., Steven (Liesl) Irwin, Eagan, Minn., and great-grandson, Samuel Irwin, Eagan, Minn.; Kathy (Jerry) Weinkauf, Rochester, and their children, Nathan Weinkauf, great-grandchildren Cole and Maya Weinkauf, Waterford, Abby (Ryan) Watson, great-grandchildren, Cecilia and Marisol, Madison, Nick Weinkauf, Rochester; Scott Irwin (fiancée Lori), Las Vegas, and their family, Courtney (Andrew) Haight, Eugene, Ore., Marisa (Josh) Kunde, Chandler, Ariz.; John Irwin, Waterford, and his family, Jeremy (fiancée Michelle) Irwin, Burlington, Vt., Josh (Jen) Irwin, great-grandson, Connor, Burlington, and Shelly Halter, Burlington, and her family, Nicole Halter, great-grandchildren, Cassandra, Christian and Hailey, Waterford, Shawn (Brynn) Halter, great-grandchildren, Hayden, Hudson and Hollyn, Rochester, Heather Lang, (friend Bob), great-grandson, Owen, McHenry, Ill.; sister, Violet Atwood, Mesa, Ariz.; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Thomas and Aileen Remer.

She was further preceded in death by her infant son, Jeffrey; great-granddaughter, Stella Weinkauf; and brothers, Ken and Jerry.

Having lived at the nursing home for over 20 years, she touched many lives and made many new friends. The family would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and friends who loved, helped and touched Virginia’s life. Special thanks to Seasons Hospice who made her life comfortable at the end.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the following charities would be appreciated: Wisconsin MS Society or www.gofundme.com/Samuels-Adoption-Fund.

A memorial service is Saturday, June 14, at 2:30 p.m., at First Congregational Church in Rochester. Visitation will be at church from 1-2:30 p.m. Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory, Burlington, is serving the family.

Well-wishers can visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.