Virginia Jean Ringoen

VIRGINIA JEAN RINGOEN, age 66, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2014, at Mercy Hospital in Janesville with her family by her side. After a long, hard fought debilitating battle with Multiple Sclerosis, Jeanie was able to walk thru the Valley of Death and run thru the Gates of Heaven to join her Savior. Jeanie was born on October 21, 1947, to Lawrence and Bessie (Bacon) Barthels in Colby, WI. She was a 1965 graduate of Westfield High School, WI. Jeanie was united in marriage to John “Jack” Ringoen on February 27, 1967 in Dubuque, Iowa. Jeanie was a homemaker and cherished spending time with her family. Her grandsons were the light of her life. In her earlier years, she enjoyed rummage and estate sales, shopping, reading, crocheting and knitting. In her later years, she spent many hours learning about her family tree using Ancestry.com. She was a member of Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church, Poplar Grove, IL. Jeanie is survived by husband, Jack of Janesville, WI; two children, David (Cammie) Ringoen, Madison WI; Jackie (James) Goetz, Janesville, WI; two grandsons, Valdemar and Sydney Goetz, both of Janesville, WI; one brother, Lawrence (Barb) Barthels of Nekoosa, WI, and one sister, Lorraine (Wayne) Westling of Washburn, WI; mother-in-law, Ruby Ringoen of Owatonna, MN; brothers-in-law, Robert (Ann) Ringoen of Reynolds, IL, and Mark (Bonnie) Ringoen of Glenville, MN; sisters-in-law, Jean Nelson of Northwood, IA, Shirley (Terrill) DeBerg of Ackley, IA, and Sherri (Richard) Carpenter of Owatonna, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and special family friends, Rolando Pinto of Belvidere, IL; Ellen Griggs of Janesville, WI, and Karlene Briese of Budsin, WI. Jeanie was preceded in death by her parents; Brother, Robert Payne; Sister, Mabel “Toots” Patrick; father-in-law, Kermit Ringoen; brothers-in-law, Ronald Ringoen, Marvin Ringoen and Robert Nelson. The family would like to thank Maria Bagaric and the My Care staff, and the staff at Mercy Health Systems ICU and Medical Care Departments, for all their care and compassion during Jeanie’s illness. A special thanks to Pastor Tom Groth, Kathy Tillotson and the parishioners of Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church for their fellowship and comforting words shown to Jeanie and her family thru the years and her more recent illness. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, September 27, 2014, at Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church, 23184 Bergen Road, Poplar Grove, IL, with a luncheon to follow. There will be a visitation prior to the service beginning at 1:00 pm. A memorial fund has been established for the Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter.