Virginia A. Wuokko

Virginia was born on March 10, 1931, in Witch Lake to Louis and Helena (Janofski) Wixtrom and lived all of her life in the Witch Lake area. She graduated from Republic High School in 1949 as valedictorian and briefly attended the nursing program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She married Reino “Riley” Wuokko on July 26, 1950 and raised seven children.

She was an active and devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Witch Lake for most of her life. She served the congregation as pianist, organist, church secretary, Sunday school secretary, financial secretary, choir member, junior youth group sponsor, Sunday School teacher, deaconess, Lake Ellen Bible Camp counselor, and was active in the women’s missionary circle. She said that her Christian faith originated in her childhood while attending Sunday School in the Standard School Building in Witch Lake, Vacation Bible School taught by Pastor C.V. Anderson, and evangelistic meetings at the Joe and Edith Wixtrom home. She was currently attending the Randville Bible Church.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their events, deer hunting, partridge hunting, reading, being at camp, oil painting, sketching, weaving rag rugs on her loom, sewing, quilting, woods work, baking and cooking, playing Scrabble, jigsaw puzzles, raising poultry, picking berries, cross country skiing, swimming, bicycling, walking, taking car rides and playing the piano, accordion, and autoharp. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, the kindness she showed to others, and her delicious baked goods. She said, “I thank the Lord for each of our children. Even though the days were filled with work, it has been a joy and blessing to have gone through those past years and spending time with them now.”

In the past, she was active in the Republic Lions Club and the Republic Area Historical Society.

She is survived by her children: Ron (Karen), Marquette; Dale (Renee), Toledo, Ohio; Larry, Witch Lake; Randy (Donna), Conover, North Carolina; Linda, Witch Lake; Darryl (Elizabeth), Wetumpka, Alabama; and Deanna, Champion; and her grandchildren Stephanie; Jennifer; Kyle; Staci; Matthew; Brittany; Trent; and Samuel Riley; a brother, D. Guy (Bonnie) Wixtrom, sisters-in-law Eunice Wixtrom, Shirley (Robert) Johnson, Aili Nummikoski, brother-in- law Roger (Janett) Wuokko, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and devoted friends Tammy Warner and JoAnn Blemberg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Reino, in 1999, infant daughter Bonnie Ruth, and her brother Lee, in 1984.

The family would like to thank Ted DeWitt for faithfully taking Virginia to church services during the last years of her life.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at the First Baptist Church of Witch Lake with Pastor James Janofski officiating. The family will greet friends and relatives at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A reception will follow the service in the church hall. Burial will take place in the Republic Cemetery this spring.

Virginia’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.