Virginia May Ganger

Grandma Virginia Ganger, 94 years, 10 months and 2 days, formerly of Peterson, IA, passed away on Wednesday March 14, 2018 at Brentwood Care Facility in LeMars, IA surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2018 at Peterson First United Methodist Church in Peterson, Iowa with Darla Rock CLS officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Peterson, IA.  Visitation with family present will be Sunday from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. At Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen, IA.  Visitation will resume 1 hour before the service Monday at the church in Peterson. Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com. 

Virginia was born May 12, 1923 on the Munger family farm northwest of Peterson to Warner Gaffney Munger and Geneva May Baughman Munger. Her father died when Virginia was five years old and her family then moved to Royal, IA, and later Spencer, IA.  After graduating from Spencer High School in 1940 she worked at the Clay County Recorder’s Office and Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.

July 10, 1943, she married Freddie Ganger at University Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. The couple lived in Austin, Sedalia, Missouri, and Fayettville N.C. until Fred was sent overseas. Virginia then returned back to Peterson with their two daughters, Sue and Nancy. When Freddie returned home from the service, the couple ran Sioux Dairy, which was later turned into a cafe they ran until retirement.

She was a member of the Peterson American Legion Auxiliary since 1947. She was very proud to be a veteran’s wife, never missing decorating the cemetery with crosses on Memorial Day. She was also active in the W.A.C.A of the Methodist Church in Peterson, IA. She loved cooking and baking, her specialties included cheerio bars and tuna and noodle casserole. Her two personal favorites were Andes Mints and Crème De Mint shakes. 

Virginia was very active at Bavarian Meadows in Remsen, where she resided for 6 years. Virginia was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. She loved to socialize with other residents and play Bingo on Fridays. Her favorite days were when she was able to go on shopping trips wearing her silver Keds or spending time with her family.


Survivors include: her daughter Sue Hodgen of Sioux City, IA. Grandchildren, Linda (Dean) Schroeder of Remsen, IA,  Doug (Denise) Hodgen of Apple Valley, MN, Pamela (David) Pottebaum of Bondurant, IA, Theresa (Jesse) Dunagan Gilbert, Ariz.; Great-grandchildren: Bryan (Crystal) Schroeder, Kimberly (Cam) Kuchel, Camden Schroeder; Nick and Ally Hodgen, Austin (Kaitlin), Madison and Derek Pottebaum, Ryan, Grace and Hunter Dunagan and two Great-Great- grandchildren, Aubree Pottebaum and Cooper Schroeder; other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents; her husband Freddie in 1997, daughter Nancy Farrington in 2009, one sister, Shirley Hedlund, three brothers, Robert, Leonard and Donald, a son in law, Robert Hodgen and a great-grandson Robert Mark Schroeder.

Casket Bearers will be Austin & Derek Pottebaum, Bryan & Camden Schroeder, Nick Hodgen and Cam Kuchel.