Virginia M. Toll, 97
Virginia M. Toll of Fond du Lac passed away on September 10, 2021, after a long illness. She lived all of her 97 years in Fond du Lac.
Family was everything to Ginny, starting with her parents, Elizabeth and William Pagel, and her siblings Dorothy Pagel Bauer, Harold Pagel, Alvina Pagel Funk, and Georgine Pagel Halfmann, all of whom preceded her in death. Ginny spoke often of the loving household in which she grew up and the special care she felt from “Ma,” her maternal grandmother, Margaret Friedel Haensgen.
Ginny’s true love was her husband, Lester Toll, whom she married on April 18, 1949, and then danced with to “their song” I’m in the Mood for Love at a rooftop dance in Milwaukee that evening. Together Les and Ginny founded Les Toll TV in Fond du Lac. He preceded her in death by 36 years, which was a long time for her to miss him.
Ginny’s commitment to family expanded when she and Les had five children: Mary Toll, Patricia Toll Luther, Cathy Toll, William Toll, and Richard Toll. Ginny was a loving mother who put the care of her children first. In due time she welcomed her children’s spouses, including Clare Blakeslee Toll, Dale Luther, Patti Jo Kounelis Toll, and David Fields, and her grandchildren Heather Crout Ntege, Jennifer Schmidt Lindeen, Jason Crout, James Schmidt, Aaron Toll, Jacob Toll, Molly Toll, and Eric Starszak.
Her kids and grandkids remember many games of Scrabble, which Ginny often won, wild tournaments of triple solitaire, shopping sprees in Appleton and Milwaukee, and road trips around Wisconsin and beyond. No road trip was complete without Ginny’s bag of extras at her feet, including a thermos of water, saltines, and a pan in case someone got sick, and emergency underclothes! Christmases were always special because Ginny made sure there was a gorgeous tree, numerous well-thought-out gifts, little elves scattered throughout the house, and a special dinner. In fact, Ginny cooked good meals daily for her family, with one favorite, “junk,” a hamburger-noodle casserole, requested often by her kids and grandkids. Her chocolate drop cookies were favorites as well.
Ginny loved to watch The Golden Girls, especially because she bore a resemblance to Betty White. Jeopardy and Match Game were other favorites, and she kept up with the news to the end.
As Ginny’s family continued to expand, she welcomed great-grandchildren Harley Roskopf, Cameron Schmidt, Jake Lindeen, Riley Schmidt, Leah Schmidt, Jamar Johnson, Theo Lindeen, Sam Lindeen, Stanley Crout, Lilly Lindeen, and Mario Starszak.
After Les died, Ginny went to work at Prange’s, which became Younker’s, as a sales associate in the domestics and children’s departments. She loved interacting with the customers and helping them to find the just-right purchase. She retired at age 80.
Ginny’s faith was important to her. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Parish and then Holy Family when the parishes merged.
Ginny’s children are especially grateful for the care she received at the Agnesian Cancer Center, St. Agnes Hospital, and Sharon Richardson Hospice.
Ginny’s family will greet friends and relatives for a time of visitation on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division St, Fond du Lac and again on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 271 Fourth St Way, Fond du Lac, WI, from 12:00 Noon to 12:45 PM. For the health and well-being of everyone in attendance, masks are required. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Entombment is at the Chapel of the Risen Christ Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery.
Online condolences may be offered at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.