Virginia Lee Cummings, age 89 of Shawano, passed away early Friday morning July 3, 2026, with family by her side. Virginia (Ginny) was born April 14, 1937, in New London, Wisconsin, the eldest daughter of the late Leroy and Dorothy (Stern) Ramsdell. When Ginny was young, she had many wonderful times with her dad. He taught her to fish, ride a bike, shoot a bow, and skate. These skills came in handy throughout her life. During her teenage years, Ginny's family moved several times. She attended three different High Schools, the last of which was Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. There she met what she called "a cute and funny" young man, Jerre Cummings. They graduated together in 1955.

After High School, she took a job at JC Penney and started her hope chest. Ginny and Jerre were married on August 25, 1956, in a beautiful candlelit ceremony at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Their love lasted for 67 years. They were soon blessed with four wonderful children. Ginny enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom until her children were in school. In 1964, the family moved to the middle of nowhere on the Wolf River (Forest Haven) outside of Shawano, Wisconsin. She was isolated there with the four kids and no car for over a year until Jerre's company finished its move. Relying on her resilience and creativity, the family all survived and came to treasure the amazing view of the Wolf River outside of the dining room window. The family was overjoyed to welcome child number five in 1971.

Ginny was a Girl Scout leader for over 25 years. Both of her daughters enjoyed having Mom as their troop leader: running meetings, teaching inspiring songs, and enjoying camping trips. Her lovely voice graced audiences as the lead singer in Sweet Adelines. With her leadership skills, she was soon elected its president. Ginny also held several positions in the Lutheran Church (Shawano, Manawa, Clintonville) including council VP and Altar Guild. And she was active in the Jaycettes, serving as the organization's president. Professionally, Ginny took a job in 1969 at a local department store, Spurgeons. She then worked as a secretary at a real estate firm. She earned her broker's license in 1991 at the age of 54, what an achievement! She enjoyed selling real estate until she retired.

In retirement, many cold winters were spent in Florida first at a timeshare, then at a beach house in Cape San Blas. She especially loved it when the children and grandchildren came to visit and spend time with them. Ginny was an avid reader and loved crocheting, gifting afghans to family members and donating lap blankets to nursing homes and baby afghans to Safe Haven. Her travels took her to many wonderful places throughout the US. One of the most memorable was a two-week family camping trip out west and back in 1973. Many other adventures followed. Her last trip was earlier this year, when she checked off a bucket list item, visiting the Grand Canyon with her two daughters. She had a wonderful time enjoying the vastness and beauty of the canyon. Internationally, her daughters took her on a trip to London "to visit Big Ben and the Towers, Castles, Palaces, and flowers". She also traveled to Italy, Spain, and Norway, taking four trips there to visit her "adopted" Norwegian family. Ginny had a very full and beautiful life full of love, laughter, friends and family. She will be deeply missed.

Left to cherish her memory are her five wonderful children, Deborah (Gerald Kurata), Diane (David Jewell), Daniel (Tammy), David (Ann), and Dean (Cassie); two sisters, Barbara (Jerome) Blum and Dawn (John) Higgins; and her "adopted" special Norwegian family, Merete Arvik (Johan Nicolaisen) and her children, Elin (Rune) Solberg and their daughter, Nora, and Erlend (Kristina) Streitlien and their children, Olav, Aron, and Mari.

Ginny found great joy in her eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Jessica Kurata, Krysta (Nicholas) Galinski; Tyler (Steff) Jewell and their children, Ryan and Lincoln, Steven (Lauren) Jewell; Mindy Cummings, Holly Cummings; Lindsey (Stephen) Thackston and their children, Penelope, Abigail, and Jude, Chelsey (Clayton) Witmer, Kayley (Miss K) Cummings; Sadie (Austin Welk) Cummings, and Carson Cummings.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerre, and her mother and father.

The family would like to especially thank Ann Johnson for her help and support.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano with Pastor Andrew Zobel officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 am until the time of service. Inurnment will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Swedberg Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, please share any condolences with their online guestbook. In lieu of flowers and plants, the family requests memorials in Ginny's name to St. James Lutheran Church Building Fund or Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (via the Dollywood Foundation) which encourages reading by providing books to children.

"... He is my mighty Rock, my Refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our Refuge." Psalm 62: 7-8 (NIV)