Virgina (Gini) Zugich, 89, passed away peacefully Nov. 21 at the home of her daughter, Cathy, in Elkhorn.
Gini was born at home to James and Albina Votava in Pisek, North Dakota, on Feb. 18, 1931, and was the sixth of seven children. Her family moved to Wisconsin when Gini was 6 years old. Helping her parents on their Neillsville dairy farm was a full-time job, though she did enjoy reading and singing, two pastimes she pursued throughout life.
On June 17, 1950, she married Henry (Hank) Zugich at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville. While raising their three children in Sturtevant, Gini was very active in St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church Choir and Altar Society. She also was a Girl Scout leader who introduced the joys of camping and the outdoors to the next generation.
Becoming a widow suddenly at the age of 42 dramatically changed her life. While being a full-time mother was her greatest joy (she still had an 11-year-old daughter at home), Gini found she needed to learn to drive and find work. With courage and determination, she did both. During her 20-year career as a City Clerk/Treasurer, she was instrumental in creating a certification program for Wisconsin City Treasurers.
After her retirement in 1994, Gini moved to Manitowoc, because she loved being near Lake Michigan, spending many hours walking on the beaches.
Her next “career” was volunteering for 20 years: first, at St. Vincent de Paul in Manitowoc, and then, after moving to Elkhorn, in 2000, at Love, Inc. in Burlington. She is remembered by many there as the “Book Lady.”
Gini was preceded in death by her parents James and Albina; husband, Hank; brothers, James and Vivian; sisters, Verna, Harriette and Viviana; and son, Michael.
She is survived by: her sister, Anna Faye Aumann; daughters, Catherine (Jim) Teska and Christine (Dave) Curler; daughter-in-law Jo (late husband, Michael) Zugich; eight grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson, who fondly remember her as “Gramzie.”
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 at St. Patrick Catholic Church 107 W. Walworth St. in Elkhorn with Father Oriol Regales officiating. Committal and entombment will be at 1 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery 2510 Kinzie Ave. in Racine.
In lieu of flowers, Gini has requested donations be made in honor of her son Michael Zugich, to: Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, SW Lilburn, GA 30047 or through the website at lbda.org.
For the online guestbook visit haaselockwoodfhs.com.
Arrangements completed by Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory in Elkhorn.
Gini’s family wishes to express their thanks and deep appreciation to the Aurora At Home Hospice team and to Jackie Thelen from Touching Hearts.
