Obit: Karnitz, Virginia Elaine (1928 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Karnitz, Nitschke, Dux, Mueller, Hare, Kallio, Hesse, Smetana, Bjerke, Schmidt

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 5/07/2014

Karnitz, Virginia Elaine (13 November 1928 - 3 May 2014)

Virginia Karnitz, 85, of Neillsville died suddenly, Saturday, May 3, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Virginia Elaine Dux was born Nov. 13, 1928, in Neillsville, the daughter of Arthur and Elsie (Nitschke) Dux. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1946. Spt. 23, 1950 she was united in marriage to Kenneth William Karnitz at the Zion Lutheran-Pine Valley Church. For several years, Virginia and Ken owned and operated the Pool Hall in Neillsville. In the late 1960’s she began working in the recreation department of the Neillsville Nursing Home. Virginia was very dedicated to her work at the nursing home, retiring with the past few months.

She was a member of the Zion Lutheran-Pine Valley Church and has served as their organist for nearly 60 years. Virginia was also known for her cookie baking and also sharing her baked good with neighbors, friends and family.

She is survived by a daughter, Lynette (Mel) Mueller of Neillsville; a daughter-in-law, Joy Karnitz of Wausau; four grandchildren, Kate (Brian Hare) Mueller of Neillsville, Amanda Mueller of Neenah, Kristin (Wayne) Kallio and Amy (Cal) Hesse, both of Wausau. Virginia is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Lois Smetana, of Black River Falls.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, Oct. 30, 1988; a son, Kerry, April 3, 2012; her parents; and a brother-in-law, Bernard Smetana.

A funeral service for Virginia will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Zion Lutheran Church-Pine Valley in Neillsville. Intern Pastor Kenneth Schmidt will officiate. Music will be provided by Sharon Bjerke, organist, and nieces and nephew, as vocalists. Interment will be in the North Pine Valley Cemetery of Neillsville. Visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and will also be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday morning at the church.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Virginia’s family with funeral arrangements.