Date of Birth:
Tuesday, March 18, 1919
Date of Death:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Age:
91 years old

Wilfrid Joseph Virnig

Wilfrid Joseph Virnig passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at Madonna Towers in Rochester. Wilfrid was born in Middleton, WI on March 18, 1919 to Adrian K. and Eva A. (Perkins) Virnig. Wilfrid moved to Dodge Center in 1925, and graduated from Dodge Center High School in 1937.  Wilfrid farmed in Dodge and Mower County. He married Catherine “Eleanor” Kuisle on April 9, 1945 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, in Simpson, MN. Together, they had ten children. He farmed outside the town of Byron, MN and he also worked in Rochester at various jobs including Water’s Instruments, Rubensteins Furniture Store, Mayo Clinic Maintenance and others. Wilfrid and Eleanor bought a farm and moved to Rollingstone, MN in 1961. He farmed and worked on the Winona Lock and Dam #5A amongst other jobs. He and Eleanor later sold their farm and moved to Goodview, MN. Eleanor died on February 26, 1975. Wilfrid worked for the Winona County Highway Maintenance Department and retired in November of 1982. Wilfrid married Shirley Rose Wilson Rodgers on March 5, 1983 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Minneiska, MN. In the 1990’s, Wilfrid and Shirley moved to Winona to live at Callista Court Assisted Living.  Shirley died August 14, 2009. After her death, Wilfrid moved to Rochester where he lived at Madonna Towers until his passing.

Wilfrid is survived by his ten children: Michael Joseph (Ruth Ann Rogers) Virnig of Tucson, AZ; Barbara Jean Virnig of Rochester; Daniel Richard (Carla Jean Fuglsang) Virnig of Bellevue, WA; Terrence Thomas (Janice Ann Lee) Virnig of Albany, OR; Linda Rose (John Robert Kaufmann) of Salem, OR; Donna Marie (James) Behmke of Columbus, IN; Veronica Vyonne (Gary Allan) Ives of Winona, MN; Annabelle Eleanor (Donald Francis) Hoechst of Cottage Grove, MN; Arden Edward (Patti Jean Hook)  of Onamia, MN; Christina Susan (James Patrick) Meyer of Eugene, OR; a sister, Meryl Kreidermacher of Plainview, MN; sixteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. In addition, he is also survived by stepchildren and spouses: John and Sigrid Rodgers of Centreville, VA; James and Patricia Rodgers, West of Rutland, VT; Judith and John King of Minnieska, MN; Theresa and Eugene Kohn of Plainview, MN; Doris Rodgers and her partner, Ron Hewuse of Houston, MN; William and Celeste Rodgers of Buffalo City, WS and step-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by two wives, one grandchild, four brothers, three sisters and his parents. Wilfrid loved fishing and hunting, history, agate stone work, farming, animals, fossil hunting and bird-watching.

A funeral Mass is planned for Monday, May 3, 2010 at Madonna Towers Chapel (4001 19^th Ave NW Rochester) at 10:30 AM. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2010 from 3:00pm to 6:30PM at Macken Funeral Home (1105 12^th Street SE Rochester) and one hour prior to services at Madonna Towers. Burial will be in St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Simpson, MN.

Memorials are preferred to the Neuroblastoma Foundation, or the University of Minnesota Children’s Cancer Research Group, or the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities, or CaringBridge.org or Madonna Towers.