With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Virginia “Ginnie” Emon on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, at the age of 85 in Kenosha, WI.
Ginnie was born on January 6th, 1941, in Wausau, WI, to Howard and Stazie (Niezgoda/Kaput) Eckerle. She spent her career working as a secretary in the engineering department of American Motors (later Chrysler), from where she retired after 30 years of service.
She married the love of her life, Orville Emon, on November 21st, 1959, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wausau. She and Orv began every day with a game of cribbage and were blessed with 60 years of marriage prior to Orv’s passing. Orv and Ginnie were graced with three children: daughter Kim, son Todd, and daughter Stacy. They raised their family in Kenosha, WI, before retiring to Legend Lake in “the house that ginseng built”, after a stint of ginseng farming with Orv’s brother Jim. Ginnie greatly enjoyed her time on Legend Lake, watching her hummingbirds with her evening brandy and Pepsi on the back deck with Orv, spending time with friends, and hosting her children and grandchildren.
Ginnie cherished her family. She always showed up with intention (and a little bit of spunk). Ahead of up north visits, she was always sure to prepare the family favorites: her potato and fruit salads, Easter Soup, and her infamous spaghetti (her canned tomatoes were the secret ingredient). Long nights were spent around the dining room table playing cards, spinner dominoes, or cribbage. She was often behind a camera during those years, maintaining a photo album for each of her grandchildren with memories of their time up north together, which she gifted to them on their 18th birthday. Time up north with Ginnie and Orv was never enough time. The traditional up north “goodbye” was a moose-ears wave, with Orv and Ginnie placing their thumbs on their temples, fingers waving wildly as the family pulled away from Legend Lake (despite their many protests to stay).
She will be greatly missed by her three children: Kim (Cary) DeGrazia, Todd (Linda) Emon, Stacy (Gregg) Althoff; nine grandchildren: Michelle (Joe), Elizabeth (Jake), Emily (Kyle), Joseph, Kyle (Kayla), Geena (James), Stephanie (Lee), Anthony, Allison; fourteen great-grandchildren, her beloved “littles”: Kiara, Myah, Ryleigh, Masyn, Kennedy, Weston, Kason, Hannah, Evelyn, Kamryn, Mia, Jaxon, Kaedyn, and a great-grandson expected in June 2026; great-great-grandchild Laidyn. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Orville, her parents, and her brother Leroy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 18th, 2026, at 12:00 Noon at St. Mary Catholic Church, 7300 39 Ave in Kenosha. Friends are invited to meet with the family on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at the Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the charity of your choice.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff of Lake Haven Memory Care for the loving and compassionate care they provided during Ginnie’s time there, and Kenosha Hospice Alliance for the support they offered to Ginnie and her family at the end.
