Virginia R. Gartzke

Virginia "Ginny" (Hoppe) (Allen) Gartzke, age 81, Manawa, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 13, 2014 surrounded by her family. She was born on August 14, 1933, in the town of Plover, daughter of the late Louis and Dora (Mundt) Hoppe. The oldest of three, Ginny grew up on the family farm in Manawa and attended school at the one-room Little Creek "country school" with her sister Judy and brother Bill. She went on to earn a degree in Home Economics and English from UW-Stout, teaching high school briefly in Waterloo following graduation. She moved to Appleton in 1955 where she met her first husband Richard Allen, whom she married a year later. She taught English and Home Economics in the Appleton public school system until her twin boys Rick and Jeff were born in 1964. Once the boys where in school, Ginny resumed teaching Home Economics at Xavier high school and later was a substitute teacher for many years. Her husband Richard passed in 1992 and she lived alone in Appleton for the next 11 years until getting together with her current husband, William Gartzke of Manawa, whom she knew from her childhood. Ginny and Bill married in 2004, rekindling a friendship that first started in 1939! She moved back to Manawa where she and Bill lived until her passing. Ginny was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing and crafting, and was a very talented artist and member of Appletree Artisans. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and canning which she continued to do throughout her life. She loved the outdoors, snowmobiling, bird watching and camping with her family. She taught her sons how to fish, and most of all how to appreciate all of God's country. Ginny is survived by: her sister Judy Niemuth of Mountain View, HI; sons Rick (Sharon) of Eden Prairie, MN and Jeff (Lisa) of Naperville, IL; husband Bill of Manawa; Grandsons Rick, Logan, Andrew, and Jacob; Granddaughters Morgan, Grace, and Emily; Step-son David (Kay) Gartzke of Town Union; and Step-daughter Sharon (John) Watson of Menomonie Falls. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, step-children and many other friends and relatives. She is preceded in death by: her parents Louis and Dora Hoppe; her brother William Hoppe; her husband Richard Allen; and an infant son. Funeral services for Ginny will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Manawa with Rev. Vilas Mazemke officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org