Virginia Duff

June 7, 1932 - October 9, 2020

Virgina Iola Duff, 88, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 9, 2020. Virginia was born June 7, 1932 in Nelma, Wisconsin to Ernest and Julia Pearl (Berry) Fulk. Not long after, the family moved to Argonne, WI where she was raised. Virginia graduated from Crandon High School in 1950. The following fall she was united in marriage to William Duff Jr. on November 25, 1950. This November would have been their 70th wedding anniversary. After graduating from high school, Virginia worked as a secretary for Dr. Rathert until she decided to further her education. Virginia attended and completed Antigo Teachers’ College, and then continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1973. She was hired by the Crandon School District on August 20, 1973 as a sixth grade teacher. After a year of teaching sixth grade, she moved into a third grade teaching position where she taught for 21 years until her retirement on June 30, 1994; a career which she loved. Virginia was blessed with many talents which she generously shared. Among these talents was her love and gift of music. For over fifty years, one could see Virginia at the front of St. Luke’s Methodist church playing the piano and organ during Sunday service. Virginia, also, sang and directed the church choir and played in the bell choir. Throughout her years of teaching, she enjoyed playing the piano for her students and played the piano accompaniment for many band students during solo and ensemble performances. She played for countless weddings and funerals throughout the community. This love music started at an early age. Virginia (8) and her two sisters, Carleen (10) and Betty (6), sang for a radio station in Upper Michigan. Music was always found at family gatherings with her dad playing the fiddle and her brothers playing guitars and banjos. Virginia was loved by all who crossed her path. Her hobbies included walking miles around town with her husband Bill, biking, golfing, swimming and cross-country skiing. Virginia, also, was an excellent seamstress making clothing for her children and loved to knit especially slippers for her grandchildren. Her friendships were always important to her. She enjoyed starting mornings with coffee with friends, looked forward to going out to eat monthly for birthdays, and playing in card club. She was always a gracious host and ready to have fun! Family was most important to Virginia. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Virginia loved having her family around her and was always preparing a feast for them like no other. Her Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinners and pies were something that we all looked forward to. She was her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s biggest fans and enjoyed watching them play in sporting, music and drama events. She was a very proud grandmother. Virginia is survived by her loving husband William Duff Jr.; three children Marsha (Alan) Flannery, Diane (Richard) Dickson, and Daniel Duff; 8 grandchildren, Craig (Lynn) Flannery, Cara (Eric) Shepherd, Eric (Keishia) Duff, Joseph Duff, William Dickson, Elizabeth Dickson, Mary Duff, and Lisa Duff; 5 great grandchildren, Bradley, Cole, Gabriel, Indigo and Oliver. Virginia will be greatly missed, but we know that she is at peace in heaven. A private service will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Crandon. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.weberhillfuneralhome.com