Virginia Stiff

Virginia Frieda Rose Stiff , 91, of Willmar, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died on Saturday October 8th, 2011 in Willmar, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the United Methodist Church in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at 11:30 AM on Saturday, Oct. 15th, at Pine Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.

Virginia was born on April 21st, 1920 to Emil Arthur Osten and Lillie Osten nee Boettcher in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Emil was a skilled carpenter, plumber, and cabinet maker who built many of the homes in the neighborhood where Virginia grew up, and the Osten's hosted Saturday night dances for their neighborhood friends in the basement of their home. Virginia attended and graduated from her neighborhood high school. Over the years Virginia also took various craft related classes from Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Virginia experienced a diversity of occupations throughout her life. In the 1940s she ran concession stands for a traveling carnival in Arkansas; throughout the 40s and 50s, she served as a truck and boxcar loader; but the job she enjoyed the most was serving as a walking telegraph deliverer for Western Union in Milwaukee. It was a big city, and she seldom knew her way; so she would often ask directions from others. She most loved getting herself lost, discovering new places, and meeting new people.

In March, 1955 Virginia married Robert Celesteral Stiff, a freight elevator operator for Cornell Paperboard Products Company in Milwaukee. Together they had two sons, Roy and Larry. She devoted herself to raising her children and caring for her family. Those years were often filled with hardships- Robert, 22 years her senior and armed with a 3rd grade education, struggled to care for his family on a base laborer's wage; he experienced several life threatening illnesses, and finally succumbed following a 4 ½ year battle with cancer. Nevertheless, she spoke highly of her gratitude for their 17 years together. Throughout Virginia maintained her fierce devotion to him and their family, loved her step family as dearly as her own blood, and continued on in Robert's absence to see her sons through their childhood and adult years.

Throughout her adult life Virginia had a passion for travel, especially places she could reach on foot. On her walking trips she very often brought the boys with her, and they learned not only the joy of walking, but the challenge of walking FAST. They walked to where Robert worked, to the downtown public library, museum, County General Hospital in Wawatosa, and the State Fair Park in West Allis. At the Fair, which Virginia faithfully attended every day, all 10 days, for 30 years, she was featured on WISN TV and the Milwaukee Journal as the official "Grandma of the Fair".

Virginia was an avid reader who also enjoyed singing- especially with the radio, sewing, cake decorating, painting pictures, photography, polka music, playing pool, traveling and visiting friends- and loved to fish every chance she could get. In retirement she painted wooden toys for underprivileged children.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband: Robert; her sisters: Dorothy Lange and Lucille Ash; her brother: Harvey Osten; and an infant brother; her parents; and her son: Melvin Stiff.

She is survived by her children: Roy (and Elisabeth) Stiff and Larry Stiff; 8 grandchildren: Benjamin and Robert Stiff, Alex and Blake Khalil, Terry (and Maye) Stiff, Dennis (and Cathy) Stiff, Colleen DelBoccio, and Bryan (and Donna) Stiff; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nephews and nieces; and her sister: Shirley Rahn.

Her personal creed, taught to her by her mother, was, "Good, better best- never let it rest 'Till the good is better, and the better, best."