Raymond Virnig

Virnig, Raymond M.Cross Plains Raymond M. Virnig, age 95, of Cross Plains, WI, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. He was born on November 8, 1914, in Cross Plains to Joseph and Katherine (nee Esser) Virnig. The seventh of eight children, he lived his whole life in Cross Plains, except for six years on a farm in the Town of Berry. Ray graduated from Middleton High School in 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression. He loved sports, was a member of the High School basketball team, and was a left-handed pitcher for the High School and Cross Plains baseball teams. On September 24, 1940, he married Loretta R. Schneeweis in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains and they were inseparable for more than 69 years. He worked as a carpenter for various construction contractors before working for 19 years as a carpenter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was a member of the Carpenters Union for more than 65 years. Ray loved hunting, woodworking, reading, vegetable gardening with his 1946 Allis-Charmers tractor and family and community history. He was the President of the Cross Plains-Berry Historical Society for many years and a Trustee of the Village of Cross Plains.He is mourned by his; children Paul (Eunice), DeForest, Robert (Ardis) and Barbara (James) Jensen, both of Cross Plains, Edward (Patricia), Brookfield, and Rita (James) Daniels, Sioux Falls, SD; daughter-in-law Jean Virnig, Fort Atkinson; grandchildren Gregory, Katherine Marie, Matthew, Krista, Joseph (Kathryn) William (Christine), Christopher and Katherine Anne Virnig, Marianne (Thomas) Gernetzke, Timothy, David and Kenneth (Allie) Jensen, Douglas and Craig (Jennifer) Daniels and Jennifer Christensen; great grandchildren Sydnie, Aidan, Ella and Nathan Daniels, Haley, Bergen and Brek Christensen, Emilia Jensen, Michael and Norah Gernetzke and Syndra, John, Mark, Rachel and Samantha Virnig; sister-in-law Luella Virnig; brother-in-law John (Betty) Schneeweis and many nephews, nieces and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta, a son Ronald, brothers and sisters John (Margaret) Carl (Mabel), Norbert, Sophia (Oscar) Jack, Agnes (Otto) Schulenberg, Josephine (Eric) Pridoehl, and Frances (Arnold) Hoffman and an infant great grandson Eric Virnig. The family thanks the staff at HospiceCare, Inc. and Father Thomas Kelley and Sister John Rose Acker of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010, with Father Thomas L. Kelley presiding. Visitation will be at the Church on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be immediately following in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Friends may wish to remember Ray by donating to the St. Francis Xavier School Endowment Fund. Memorials: Friends may wish to remember Ray by donating to the St. Francis Xavier School Endowment Fund. Cemetery: Burial will be immediately following in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery Visitation: Visitation will be at the Church on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010, with Father Thomas L. Kelley presiding