Virginia Zoelle of Waterford, Wisconsin was born into eternal life on June 28, 2016 at the age of 96. Virginia was born on May 25, 1920 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the daughter of Gladys Klock Grabinski and Alfred Grabinski. Virginia graduated from Fond du Lac High School in 1938. Virginia was an accomplished musician, playing cello in the first chair of the Fond du Lac Symphonic Orchestra. She also was a member of a String Trio that played at special events in the Fond du Lac area. Virginia attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin from 1938 – 1940; transferring to the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1940. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1942.
Virginia married her high school sweetheart, Edward J. Zoelle on April 23, 1942 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fond du Lac. Edward served in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Europe during WWII as Virginia served her country on the home front by volunteering with the Red Cross Volunteer Nurse’s Aide Corp in Fond du Lac. After the War, Virginia and Edward went on to raise four children: Stephen Zoelle of Kingman, AZ; Andrea Zoelle of Lockport, IL; Barbara Zoelle-Johnson (Donald) of Rushford, MN and Edward Jr. (Angie Krencisz) of Waterford, WI.
Virginia was involved in community organizations while the family resided in Fond du Lac. This included serving as the President of the Catholic Junior League, President of the Women’s Service League and assisting with Public Relations with the League of Women Voters. The family relocated to Richfield, MN in 1959. Virginia entered the work force in 1962 as an Assistant Librarian at the Bloomington Branch of the Hennepin County Library System. Virginia continued in this position until the family relocated to Waterford, Wi in 1969. Virginia resumed her library career with the Waterford Public Library in 1974, becoming the Library’s Director in 1976. As Director, she is credited with profoundly expanding the materials and services offered by the library as well as the linkage to the Lakeshores Library System [1980]. Before her retirement from the Library on April 1, 1994, Virginia was instrumental in laying the ground work for what would become the new Waterford Public Library. Virginia loved working in the community and after her retirement from the Library she worked at the Trim & Tidy Dry Cleaners in Waterford.
Virginia was a lover of books, games and was a keen Scrabble player. In her own words, Virginia described her interests as “reading, gardening, music and the ‘particular interests of the children’”. Virginia was a dedicated and loving wife and mother; an involved member of her community and a skilled professional in her career.
Virginia was proceeded in death by her mother, Gladys Grabinski and by her husband of 69 years, Edward Zoelle.
There will be a Memorial Mass for Virginia M. Zoelle on Saturday, August 6 at 11:00 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church (305 S. First Street) Waterford, Wi. Visitation will be at 10:00 am at the Church with a luncheon to follow the Mass. The cremains of Virginia Zoelle, and her husband, Edward, will be interred together at the Rienzi Cemetery in Fond du Lac, WI on Monday, August 8 at 1:00 pm.
