Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Karnitz
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/29/2014
After 47 Years Karnitz Set (Retire Friday - 2014)
Virginia Karnitz, 85, poses for a photo Thursday in the activity room at Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation. Karnitz is retiring Friday, Jan. 31, after 47 years as an activity department employee at the skilled nursing facility. Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press
By Todd Schmidt
To say she has seen a lot of water go over the dam in her career would be a vast understatement.
Virginia Karnitz, 85, of Neillsville, is retiring Friday, Jan. 31, after 47 years as an activity department employee at the local nursing home. She took a few moments Thursday at Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation to reminisce about her experiences in the only outside job she has had during her life.
“I really love my job and working with my co-workers and the wonderful residents,” Karnitz said. “It really wasn’t a tough decision for me to retire. I decided it was time to give someone else a chance.”
She said at one point in her career, there were about 170 residents at the nursing home, compared to approximately 50 residents now.
Karnitz has scaled down to part-time, working Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of the third Monday of the month, when she comes in from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There are two other employees in the activity department, and Karnitz said it had not been determined if someone would be hired to take her place.
She enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane, recalling favorite moments of her interaction with the nursing home residents that have made her job very satisfying. Karnitz has helped with countless community outings and picnics.
“It is very important to keep residents active and involved,” she said.
The activities department has taken residents for rides to watch events in the Hatfield area, enjoy amenities at The Highground and view the wonderful fall colors. Sometimes they pack a lunch.
The Neillsville Men’s Club and the Neillsville Lions Club regularly sponsor picnics in the backyard shelter.
Karnitz and the residents have played thousands of games of bingo, bunko and other card games. They have attended weekly in-house church services and enjoyed visits from the Sunshine Girls, the Danish Peasant and other musicians.
“The residents like polkas and waltzes,” Karnitz said. “They also enjoyed the bright red uniforms worn by the Sunshine Girls.”
School children and church groups come for special programs. Holidays are big events at the nursing home.
“We always celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and New Year’s Day,” Karnitz said.
She is not sure what she’ll be doing with all her spare time.
“I will still come up and visit the residents,” she said. “I was always used to working, which was kind of my hobby, too I did enjoy doing yard work when I was younger. Karnitz was a farm girl who graduated from Neillsville High School in 1946.
Her husband kenneth worked for the Farmer’s Union. He passed away 21 years ago.
They had two children, Kerry and Lynette. Kerry passed away in 2012. Lynette (Mueller) lives in Neillsville.
Karnitz said she would now be able to spend more time with her two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
For 60 years, Karnitz was the church organist at Zion Lutheran Pine Valley. She retired from that role a month ago.
A retirement party is planned for Karnitz Friday, Jan. 31, in the activity room at Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation. Ice cream, cake, some light refreshments and good conversation will be featured.
