Virgil Landgraf

LANDGRAF, VIRGIL H. MADISON-Virgil H. Landgraf, age 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 22, 2014. He was born in Kohler, Wis., on Aug. 22, 1922, to Hugo and Hubertina Ann (Rammer) Landgraf. He was the second oldest of seven children. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Margery; sister, Charlotte; and brother, Clayton. Virgil is survived by brothers, Rodger (Dorothy) and Eugene (Sally); sisters, Carol (Robert) Schumacher and Janet (Ken-deceased) Howden. Virgil and Margery had five children, Judy (Fred Nelson) of Columbia, Md., Sue Landgraf of Davenport, Iowa, David (Jeri) of Aledo, Texas, Robert (Joan) of Fitchburg, and Aimee of Stoughton. He was blessed with seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Virgil enlisted to serve his country on Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific Theatre, where he piloted a B-25 bomber. Virgil was discharged in Sept. of 1945, with a rank of 1st Lieutenant. He married his pre-war sweetheart, Margery Keitel, of Sheboygan, on June 14, 1945. They enjoyed over 62 years of marriage until Margery’s passing in Dec. of 2007. Virgil went to the UW-Madison under the GI Bill from 1945 until graduation in 1949. He started working for the Ansul Corporation in 1949 as a fire protection sales representative. He was a top sales performer and was rewarded with several trips, including one to the Bahamas which he and Marge particularly enjoyed. Virgil retired from Ansul in 1977. He later worked part-time for PerMar Security where he was a fixture in his section at Badger football and basketball games. Virgil was a devoted member of St. Maria Goretti Parish beginning in 1974. He missed being able to socialize with congregation members after his move to assisted living in 2008. Virgil loved golf, grilling out, and backyard gardening, where he “harvested” no more rabbits than necessary to keep his beloved veggies intact. He kept in shape riding his bicycle all over town, which he enjoyed doing well into his 70’s. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb for their care and compassion during his six-year residency there. They would also like to thank Agrace HospiceCare for helping make him comfortable at the end of his life. Memorials in Virgil’s honor may be made to the charity of your choice. A memorial service in Sheboygan will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Road (608)442-5002