OBITUARY: Virginia Ann (Warren) Simmons

Virginia Ann (Warren) Simmons, age 82, died peacefully while surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at her home in Brillion, WI.

Virginia was born March 20, 1936 and grew up in Iowa, where she graduated as valedictorian from Hedrick High School class of 1953 and met her husband, John, whom she married on April 10, 1954. She worked as a proofreader for Meredith Publishing in Des Moines, IA, and lived in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana before moving to Brillion, where she was the superintendent’s administrative assistant at Brillion Public School.

An accomplished musician, she sang and served as pianist in several Methodist churches, taught scores of piano students and accompanied countless young soloists. Her other hobbies included golfing, quilting and reading—pursuits that kept her learning new skills and cultivated many lasting friendships. Throughout the years, she volunteered with the Boy Scouts and other youth organizations, served on the Brillion Library Board and was president of the Brillion Women’s Club. More recently, she was the senior-most member of the Scrap Angels Quilt Club.

Virginia is survived by John, her husband of 64 years; sister Millie Abel of Sigourney, IA; and six children: Julia (Al) Onstad of Plymouth, MN; Kathryn (Scott) Nelson of Glen Ellyn, IL; Steve (Kim) Simmons of Brillion, WI; Linda Simmons of Prescott, AZ; Mark (Barb) Simmons of Rockford, IL; and Rebecca (Tim) Douglas of Rockford, IL. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Mary (Bill) Hipp of Packwood, IA, and Susan (Richard) Buchman of Mission, TX. Virginia has 11 grandchildren: Nicholas (Kate) Simmons, Jaclyn (Jason) Keller, Brittney (Mike) Horn, Emily (Luke) Laga, Erin (Danny) Cook, Sarah (James) Jackson, Shane Flynn, John Warren Simmons, Elise Douglas, and Jill and Elizabeth Nelson; and nine great-grandchildren: Spencer Laga, Jack and Gwen Simmons, Lauren and Ella Kuchenbecker, Griffin and Delaney Keller, and Molly Jo and Willis Horn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Hazel (Campbell) Warren; siblings Richard and Alice Warren; father- and mother-in-law Ralph and Inez (Helmick) Simmons; and sisters-in-law Doris Ricketts and Opal Walker.

A brief memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 21, 2019 at the Wieting Funeral Home, 215 S. Main St. in Brillion.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Family and friends here and abroad will remember Virginia fondly for her kindness, intelligence and grace.