Virgie Marie (Hammon) Washburn, Webster, Wisconsin, formerly of New Lisbon, Wisconsin.

Virgie was born June 4, 1918 in Cataract, Town of Little Falls, Monroe County, Wisconsin to Warnie “Babe” Hammon and Ella Lakowske, the first of eight children.

Virgie spent her early years working as a young domestic at several homes and farms in the Cataract and Sparta area; babysitting, housecleaning, cooking, and baking, as well as helping at home with her younger siblings.  She graduated from the Cataract State Graded Elementary School. 

In 1938, Virgie was united in marriage to Gordon C. Washburn of the Black River Falls area.  They moved to Sparta where he had employment and she worked at Harrison’s Restaurant, a longtime, popular eating establishment in Sparta.  When World War II broke out, Gordon was called into the Army and they lived in Louisiana and Georgia, where she worked at clubs and restaurants, until he went overseas to fight in Germany and France.  Virgie moved to La Crosse where she shared an apartment with her sister,  Adeline Ogen, and found employment as a saleslady for “Stevenson’s Ladies Better Ready to Wear” Department Store.  When Gordon returned from the war in 1945, they lived in Elroy for a while, and in 1946 they moved to New Lisbon, where Gordon was an over-the-road semi-truck driver for Glendenning Motorways.  Virgie worked at the La Crosse Garment Factory in Mauston until the birth of her son, Michael in 1951, when she became a stay at home wife and mother, until the early death of her husband in 1966.  A young widow at the age of 47, Virgie learned to drive and purchased for herself a new Ford Torino, in which she was very proud.  She had found a good job with New Lisbon schools food service, where she later became head baker for 15 years.  A favorite family vacation resort in Danbury, WI became Virgie’s place of employment during the summer months, until her retirement in 1981.  In 1983 she sold her home in New Lisbon and moved to Webster to be with her son and his family.  She continued to work at the resort in Danbury until her retirement from there in 1992.

Virgie loved to cook and bake.  Her favorites were breads and rolls, cinnamon rolls, pies and cakes, but her grandson Ryan told her, “Grandma V. – you make the best cookies”.  Virgie was an avid, voracious reader, loved to crochet afghans for special gifts, embroider, flower garden, visit and travel.  She spent several winters in California with her sister Rosella, always enthusiastic about the hectic airplane trip and excited to see the friends she made out there.  She was always ready and able to housesit for her sister Nancy and the family pets, and always available to help anyone in the family when she was needed.  For many years she has made the long trip from Webster to the Sparta and New Lisbon area twice a year to visit family and friends, driving all by herself, and spending several weeks.  They will all miss those visits.

Virgie was a 60 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary post #110 in New Lisbon, and a member of the Yellow Lake Lutheran Church in Danbury.

Virgie is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; her parents, Warnie “Babe” and Ella Hammon; two brothers, Hansel Hammon and Eugene Hammon; three sisters, Adeline Ogen, Lois Ann Brown/Lynch, Beatrice Hofstrand; four brothers-in-laws, and 1 sister-in-law.  She is survived by her son Michael (Dawn) of Webster, two grandsons; Jarrod (Kerrie) Washburn and their children Jack, Owen, and Ava Washburn of Webster, grandson Ryan Washburn and his children Ruby and Rosemary of Webster; granddaughter Casey Kane and her children Hailey and Tyler of Neenah/Menasha; two sisters, Rosella Jenkins and Nancy (David) Hendricks, both of Sparta; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, and many friends. 

Virgie will be remembered for her dependability, her caring Love and devotion to family and friends. 

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 11:00AM at the Bethany Lutheran Church (618 W. River St.) in New Lisbon.  Relatives and friends are invited to the church for a visitation on Tuesday from 9:30AM until the time of service.  Burial will be in the Brewster Cemetery.  Online guestbook available at www.harefuneralhome.com

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