Virginia Ruth (Kirschenman) Renz
After a courageous 15 year battle with an aggressive lung disease, Virginia passed into the afterlife, at age 75, on January 19, 2016, while held by her loving husband of 54 years and family. Virginia Ruth (Kirschenman) Renz was born on April 1, 1940, on a small farm near Hosmer, South Dakota to Ruth (Krebs) and Eugene Kirschenman, who preceded her in death before they were 50 years old. She was the oldest of six children, and is survived by five siblings: Glen (Glenda) Kirshman, James (Bonnie) Kirschenman; Janet (Ben) Baird, Lois Gilman, and Zeno Kirschenman.

Virginia attended schools in South Dakota. German was the primary language in her home, and she learned to speak English after starting elementary school. She graduated from Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Additional education included a BA from Linfield College while her children were in junior high. In her youth, she enjoyed playing music and played first chair clarinet in the All State Orchestra.

On August 6, 1961, she married Lyle Renz. Together they raised three children of whom she was very proud; Katherine (Todd) Flynn, Olympia; Greg Renz, St. Petersburg , FL; Karen (Bob) Kilpatrick, Olympia. Virginia enjoyed a full life of family and friends. Her Christmas card and email address lists were extensive. While she spent the last 38 years in Olympia, home also included Salem, Oregon for 13 years and many more moves while Lyle was working for the Federal Highways Administration. They traveled extensively for work and pleasure, visiting 48 states. Their travels included a six week driving trip to Alaska in 2008 with her sister Janet and her husband Ben. That same year, she and Lyle enjoyed a three week trip through the Panama Canal. She greatly enjoyed a trek to Europe with an alumni group from Linfield College in 1988.

Virginia also took great pride in her grandchildren, Jordan (Lindsay Irion) Flynn, Kevin (Allyson) Flynn, and Laura Flynn, and great-granddaughters Ainsley Flynn and Alexa Flynn. She rarely missed a sporting event, play, recital or concert where her grandchildren were participating.

She was a life- long learner, who enjoyed cooking and baking, dancing, golfing, playing cards, reading, gardening, antiques, wine making, quilting, music, painting, sporting events (they were season ticket holders for the Trailblazers, Seahawks and Mariners) and touring with two vintage car clubs in her red 1968 Cutlass convertible. She was a pioneering “co-op Mom” taking her youngest two children to co-op preschool in the early 1970’s. She played bridge and golf for fun, and was part of several philanthropic groups. New babies at her workplace were always welcomed with her handmade quilts. Her abundant garden fed family, friends and provided hundreds of pounds of donated produce for the Thurston County Food bank. She never arrived at an event empty handed, and loved to try new recipes and food. Her cookbook collection filled her bookcase to overflowing.

Virginia left legacies of excellence in nursing care at several health care settings. She was an IV therapist at Salem Hospital, Salem, OR and the charge nurse for the pre-op unit at St. Peter’s Hospital, Olympia, WA. Her legacy also includes two more generations of nurses, her daughter Katherine, and granddaughter Laura. At age 50, she started a new 18 year career as a medical investigator for the Department of Health in Washington. She had a keen eye for details and subtle changes, which along with her unrelenting high standards for all of her work activities established her as a stellar clinician and investigator. There are stories to be told, and she took them to the grave with her. She was a woman of high moral standards who kept every confidence in her personal and professional life.

Virginia was a perfect blend of traditional values while also embracing new people, places and experiences. She led an adventuresome and blessed life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Lung Association (http://www.lung.org) or South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity (http://spshabitat.org . Her funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Friday January 29, 2016, at The First United Methodist Church (1224 Legion Way, SE 98501) Olympia, WA.

Sweet Virginia, we are so happy to know you are getting to use those new wings. We hope you dance, too. We miss you fiercely already, and know you are free of your earthly challenges. Heaven, meet Virginia.