Obituary of Florence Von Haden
Florence Virginia ?Ginni? Von Haden, 90, passed away at The Wisconsin Rapids Care Center on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Ginni?s life was marked by optimism, encouragement of others, and a million memorized songs that lit up the room as she sprang into song.
Ginni was born November 30, 1920, in Morton Grove, Illinois, to George and Georgianna Lartz. As the fourth of five children, and the first girl, living during the Great Depression, Ginni appreciated everything about life, to the tiniest detail. Her father instilled in her a love for the Lord, and his dedication to the Bible and to living for Jesus remained in Ginni all her life. Her mother, a piano teacher at the Chicago Institute of Music, gave Ginni a love for music and its power to heal, encourage, and speak to the soul.
Ginni?s family moved from the Chicago area to northern Wisconsin (Hickory Corners, near Suring) around 1931, where Ginni lived in the country and learned to appreciate God?s vast handiwork of nature. There, at Suring High School she met the love of her life, her husband, Robert Louis Von Haden. She and Robert (Bob) were married on August 2, 1941, in her family?s large front yard, and they enjoyed 70 wonderful years of marriage together. Ginni was Bob?s eternal cheerleader, always building him up and saying wonderful things about him.
Bob and Ginni lived near Washington, D.C., while Bob was in the Navy, after which they returned to Wisconsin and settled in Green Bay for the next 40 years. Together they raised four children, instilling in them a strong sense of family and love.
Ginni was a homemaker until the age of 43, when she agreed to be the short-term substitute teacher for her daughter Mari Beth?s third grade class. The contracted teacher never did return, and that year began a rewarding teaching career, as Ginni poured her life into teaching children in the Green Bay area for the next 19 years.
Bob and Ginni enjoyed their retirement years by spending their summers on their retirement home at Kelly Lake, Wisconsin, their old ?stomping grounds,? and their winters in Sun City, Arizona. At Kelly Lake Ginni delighted in cooking for large groups, and entertaining children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, often up to 30 at a time. In Sun City, Bob and Ginni golfed, and Ginni participated in almost every club that existed, from piano and organ, to tap dance, painting, writing, computer, cooking, knitting, sewing, and anything else she had time for! She was truly a lifelong learner!
Five years ago Bob and Ginni moved to Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to be close to family. Ginni continued to be an encouragement to others, in spite of her failing health.
Ginni is survived by her husband, her eldest brother, George Lartz, Jr., and all four of her children: Bob (Sue) von Haden, of Mission Viejo, California; Carol (Hal) Wentzel, of Niagara, Wisconsin; Chuck (Diane) von Haden, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Mari (Dan) Peterson, of Wisconsin Rapids. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her legacy of music will continue through these people, who learned harmony and ?spunk? ? not only of music, but of life! ? from Ginni.
Friends may call at Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 2. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, with a visitation from 10:00 until 11:00. A lunch will be served after the interment.
