Virginia Churchill

Churchill, Virginia Louise Vandeburg
Of Kalamazoo Virginia Churchill passed while sleeping on Saturday, January 29, 2011 - just a few days short of the three-year anniversary of her husband's passing. Virginia was born in Belvidere, IL on August 26, 1924, one of two daughters to Chellis and Nellie Vandeburg. Virginia met Bruce Churchill in high school and promised to marry him after Bruce returned from World War II. In 1945, Virginia completed Nurses Training at Rockford, IL Memorial Hospital. On January 25, 1946, Bruce and Virginia were married and moved to Madison, WI. After Bruce earned his PhD, he was hired by the Upjohn Company; and the family came to Kalamazoo. Soon thereafter, both Virginia and Bruce contracted polio. It was after taking ballroom dancing lessons, that the polio completed subsided. The couple were avid dancers for 40 years and won competitions locally as well as in Chicago. Virginia was a wife, mother, grandmother, and a friend to many. She was active in the Oshtemo Grange, worked in her children's schools, had a Girl Scout troop, and was the secretary of the PTA. Virginia worked at the Upjohn Nursing Home and Borgess Hospital. With love for children, Virginia and Bruce cared for nearly 40 foster babies after raising their own three children. One of these babies, Polly, worked her way into their hearts and was adopted by the family. Virginia loved Jesus, her family, her friends, dancing, children, flowers, playing the piano, singing, holidays, playing cards, laughing, sewing, traveling with her family, and fishing. Virginia was an expert at baking, and the family will continue to enjoy using her recipes. An active member of Haven Reformed Church for over 40 years, Virginia helped organize Haven's monthly Prime Time luncheons and start a Bible class for seniors. Virginia is survived by her four children: Connie Blake Hagman of Kalamazoo, Carolyn Tom Fehsenfeld of Grand Rapids, Bruce Cindy Churchill of Cumberland-Foreside, ME, and Polly Churchill of Kalamazoo; 8 grandchildren: Jennifer Mark Copland, Alan Debbie Fehsenfeld, Rebecca Ouding, Ben Fehsenfeld, Dana Zack Lopez Ibanez Fehsenfeld, Cristina, Tessa, and Leah Churchill; 3 great grandchildren: Evan and Parker Frye and Burdie Grey Ibanez; niece, Roberta Churchill; many friends; and beloved caregivers Sonya Schau and Vicky Beach. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; Bruce, her beloved husband of 65 years; her sister, Marjorie; brother-in-law, Robert; and nephew, Robert Churchill. Services will be held on Sunday, February 6, at 2:00 at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. A visitation will be held at the Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00 on Saturday. The family requests memorial contributions may be directed to the ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation. www.langelands.com