Virginia Mae Papcke

MADISON-Virginia Mae (Gjermo) Papcke, age 89, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018, just 27 days after her beloved husband, Harry entered eternal life.  She was born on March 3, 1929, in Madison, the daughter of Sanford and Gladys (Anderson) Gjermo.  Virginia was a member of Hope 4-H Club for 8 years and was featured in the 4-H Poultry Bulletin in June of 1945. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1947 and attended Whitewater State Teacher’s College, which is now the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  In 1948, Virginia met her husband-to-be, Harry Papcke, when she was a delegate to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago.  They were married on Oct. 24, 1953, in McFarland.  Virginia continued to be active in 4-H while Harry served as Dane County Youth Agent.  She served in several leadership roles at the local club level, as well as on several state committees.  Virginia enjoyed collecting and researching family history and with Harry, were the historians for family reunions.  Both, Virginia and Harry were proud members of the South Central Chapter Wisconsin State Genealogical Society and Wisconsin State Genealogical Society.  They were also members of McFarland Lutheran Church.  Virginia and Harry enjoyed dancing at the Park Ponderosa Ballroom in McFarland, and were on many Dairyland Jubilee TV shows with Big John Schermerhorn.  Virginia was a proud Norwegian and enjoyed celebrating her heritage.  In 1994, she went to Norway, along with other family members to visit cousins and family homestead sites.  Virginia and Harry also hosted several groups of Norwegian relatives when they came to Wisconsin to visit.  Virginia is survived by her son, Mark (Linda) Papcke; grandchildren, Tara and Andrew Papcke; sister, Joyce (Roger) Utermark; sister-in-law, Jean Gjermo and nine nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry on April 10, 2018; parents; brother, Sanford “Sam” Gjermo Jr.; brother-in-law, Charles (Elaine) Papcke; and niece, Julie Gunderson.  Funeral services will be held at MCFARLAND LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5529 Marsh Rd., McFarland, at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018, with the Rev. Timothy Dean presiding.  Burial will be held at McFarland Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Virginia’s name to the Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library: http://www.nagcnl.org/donate/.   Virginia and Harry were a team in 4-H and in family history activities and are now reunited again.  Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive 608-221-5420