Virginia Unzicker
Virginia Emma Unzicker, 94 of Imperial, Nebraska passed away Monday morning, July 8, 2019 at Monarch Hospice Home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Virginia (Ginny) was born April 30, 1925 in Holyoke, Colorado to Morse Allen and Ruby Maude (Ellis) Kistler. She graduated from Phillips County High School in May 1944 and attended Colorado Women’s College and Oregon State University.
In 1945, Virginia moved to Portland, Oregon to assist her widowed sister with her infant daughter. It was in Portland that Virginia met Sam O. Unzicker, who was serving in the US Navy. On Oct. 20, 1946 the couple wed in Holyoke, Colorado and settled on the family farm west of Lamar near the Colorado/Nebraska border to raise their family. Virginia and Sam remained there until 1973, when they relocated to the Blanche community in northeast Chase County. In 2001, they moved to Imperial while continuing to farm. This union lasted 69 years until Sam’s death on Jan. 23, 2016.
Ginny was an active and hardworking farm wife; she enjoyed working outside with Sam and valued time spent around the table with her family. She loved gardening, playing cards with neighbors and weekend dances with friends. She was very involved in her community and church, serving as a Sunday school teacher for many years. Later in life, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends while playing bingo and working over many jigsaw puzzles.
Above all else, Grandma Ginny’s love was for her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved her visits with them and listened intently to their adventures. Being a grandparent was one of her greatest joys.
Survivors include five children: Connie (Tom) Lappin of Chandler, Arizona, Doy Unzicker and friend Joyce Huff of Lincoln, Peggy Smith and friend Marv Nesiba of North Platte, Kim Unzicker of Greeley, Colorado, and Terri (Tim) Leibbrandt of Imperial; twelve grandchildren: Julie Barber, Dawn (Dave) Thompson, Sydney (Andy) Joyce, Ashley (Jay) Hoffman, Lindsey (Bruce) Fromme, Megan (Joel) Mueller, Bret (Jodi) Smith, Matthew Anderson, Tara (Alex Sandoval) Anderson, Wade (Celeste) Leibbrandt, Ellen (Tyler) Hughes and Paula Leibbrandt; twenty great-grandchildren: JaCasta, Sebastian, Remington, Solomon, Macrina, Delia, Dexter, Harrison, Rory, Austin, Taylor, Blake, Makenzie, Kayden, Jace, Jada, Londyn, Colin, Garrett and Nolan; three siblings: Catha (Randy) Stewart, Karen (Shannon) Robinson and David (Judy) Kistler.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter, one brother and two sisters.
Pallbearers included Matthew Anderson, Wade Leibbrandt, Bret Smith, Dave Thompson, Andy Joyce, Jay Hoffman, Bruce Fromme, Joel Mueller, Alex Sandoval and Tyler Hughes.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 13, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial with Pastors Melody Newman and Kent Griffen officiating. Interment followed services in the Blanch Cemetery in rural Chase County.
Visitation was held Friday afternoon, July 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the United Methodist Church Deborah Circle.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements