Obit: Zurich, Virgina “Gini” (1931 - 2020)

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

Surnames: Zurich, Votava, Aumann, Teska, Curler, Thelen, Regales

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/02/2020

Zurich, Virgina “Gini” (18 February 1931 – 21 November 2020)

Virgina (Gini) Zurich, 89, passed away peacefully in her daughter Cathy’s home November 21, 2020 in Elkhorn.

Gini was born at home to James and Albina Votava in Pisek, ND, on February 18, 1931, the sixth of seven children. Her family moved to Wisconsin when Gini was six years old. Helping her parents on their Neillsville dairy farm was a full time job, though she did enjoy reading and singing, two pastimes she pursued throughout life. On June 17, 1950, she married Henry (Hank) Zugich at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville.

While raising their three children in Sturtevant, Gini was very active in St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church Choir and Altar Society. She also was a Girl Scout leader who introduced the joys of camping and the outdoors to the next generation. Becoming a widow suddenly at age 42 dramatically changed her life. While being a full time mother was her greatest joy (she still had an 11-year-old daughter at home), Gini found she needed to learn to drive and find work. With courage and determination, she did both. During her 20 year career as a City Clerk/Treasurer, she was instrumental in creating a certification program for WI City Treasurers.

After her retirement in 1994, Gini moved to Manitowoc, because she loved being near Lake Michigan, spending many hours walking on the beaches.

Her next “career” was volunteering for 20 years: first, at St. Vincent de Paul in Manitowoc, and then, after moving to Elkhorn, in 2000, at Love, Inc. in Burlington. She is remembered by many there as the “Book Lady.”

She is survived by her sister Anna Faye Aumann, daughters Catherine (Jim) Teska and Christine (Dave) Curler, and daughter-in-law Jo (late husband, Michael) Zurich. Her 8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson fondly remember her as “Gramzie.”

Gini was preceded in death by her parents James and Albina, her husband Hank, brothers James and Vivian, sisters Verna, Harriette, and Viviana, and her son Michael.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 A.M. Friday December 4, 2020 at St. Patrick Catholic Church 107 W Walworth Street Elkhorn, with Father Oriol Regales officiating. Committal and entombment will be 1:00 P.M. at Calvary Cemetery 2510 Kinzie Ave Racine, WI.

In lieu of flowers, Gini has requested donations be made in honor of her son Michael to, Lewy Body Dementia Association 912 Killian Hill Road, SW Lilburn, GA 30047or go to: lbda.org.

On-line guestbook is at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com.  Arrangements completed by Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory Elkhorn, WI.

Her family wishes to express their thanks and deep appreciation to the Aurora At Home Hospice team and to Jackie Thelen from Touching Hearts.