Obit: Reis, Virginia Pauline Lenore (1935 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Baird, Deck, Huberfeld, Nikolai, Nulf, Reis, Rinehart, Zettler

----Source: The Tribune-Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 11/16/2018

Reis, Virginia Pauline Lenore (Deck) (2 JUN 1935 - 12 NOV 2018)

Virginia P. L. Reis, age 83, of Loyal, peacefully passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018.

A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, in Loyal. Rev. Canon Aaron B. Huberfeld presided over the Latin Mass, and burial followed in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were Zachary Nikolai, David Nikolai, Louis Nikolai, Peter Reis, Timothy Nikolai, Mathew Nikolai, Richard Reis, James Reis, Jacob Reis, and Jeff Zettler. Visitation was held at the church on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again, on Monday, from 12 p.m. until the time of service.

Virginia Pauline Lenore Deck was born on June 8, 1935, in South Bend, Ind., to Ferdinand A. and Gladys E. (Nulf) Deck. As a young girl, her family moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where she was raised and received her education. While in Pittsburgh, she sang weekly on KDKA Radio with her siblings, a group they called the Deck Five. Virginia graduated from Divine Providence Academy in 1953. She then attended St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Pittsburgh, becoming a nurse in 1956. While working as a nurse, she met and cared for a patient that she eventually fell in love with. Virginia was united in marriage to Richard H. Reis on Jan. 14, 1956, at St. Joseph’s Mt. Oliver Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. They began farming in the Pittsburgh area and raising a family. In 1972, they sold their farm in Pennsylvania, and moved to a farm that they purchased near Unity. Virginia resided on the farm until she and her husband divorced in 2016.

She had many interests, but especially loved spending time with her family and friends, her dogs, horses, gardening, spinning wool, and crocheting. Virginia attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Oratory in Wausau, was a former member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby, where she sang in the choir for several years, and was a 4-H leader for the Horse Haven 4-H Club in Unity for many years.

She is survived by her five daughters, Deborah (John) Baird of Colby, Emma (Allen) Zettler of Colby, Mary Ann (Rob) Rinehart of Willard, Junitta (Todd) Nikolai of Loyal and Elizabeth (Roger) Nikolai of Loyal; her four sons, Andrew (Colleen) of Unity, Daniel (Carmen) of Marshfield, Patrick (Kulani) of Unity and Anthony (Jody) of Unity; 51 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dolores Deck of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Sr. Rosemonde Deck of Kingston, Mass.; four nieces, Gina, Linne, Karen and Barbara; one nephew, Greg; her former husband, Richard Reis of Unity; other relatives and friends.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, David and Richard Reis, Jr.; one sister, Sr. Rosalie Deck; and one brother, Fr. Marion Deck T.O.R. Franciscan.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal assisted the family with arrangements.