RUNGE, Virgil George 1917-2005

RUNGE, KIRCHGATTER, BARNHART

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/2/2009 at 13:07:26

Virgil G. Runge

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA — Virgil G. Runge, 88, of 16 Fifth St. N.W. in Nora Springs, died Tuesday (Aug. 23, 2005) at the Nora Springs Care Center in Nora Springs.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 101 N. Hawkeye in Nora Springs, with the Rev. Donald L. Neeley officiating. Burial will be at the Park Cemetery in Nora Springs.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye in Nora Springs.

The family requests memorials are made to the Virgil G. Runge Memorial Fund.

Virgil George Runge was born Jan. 23, 1917, in Mitchell County. Virgil is the son of Max and Emma (Kirchgatter) Runge. He received his education in the rural schools of Grafton and St. Ansgar areas. He farmed with his father until the family moved to Nora Springs in 1949. He worked for Farmers Mutual Telephone Co. and Swift Fertilizer in Nora Springs, and United Building Center in Mason City as a carpenter until his retirement.

On Jan. 28, 1956, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Eileen Barnhart at the First Presbyterian Church in Greene. This union was blessed with two sons, Mark and Steven.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. After moving to Nora Springs, he became a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church. After retiring, he enjoyed doing woodworking and has several memorial pieces in the church. He enjoyed gardening and doing lawn work. When weather permitted, he liked going fishing with his wife in Iowa and Minnesota.

Virgil will be greatly missed by his wife of 49 years, Phyllis, of Nora Springs; two sons, Mark Runge of Mason City and Steven Runge and his wife, Sarah, of Mason City; five grandchildren: Marie Morud and her husband, Nick, of Mason City, Max Runge and his wife, Julie, of Mason City, Alicia, Kayla and Stephanie Runge of Mason City; and four step-grandsons: Conner, Gage, Austin and Beck Labesky of Warren, Pa. He is also survived by his three sisters: Vivian Boyer of Sparta, Ill., Hazel Wirtjes of Nora Springs and Evelyn Klinetop and her husband, Allen, of Charles City; and many nieces and nephews.

Virgil was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, parents, sister, Arlene Klinetop; three brothers-in-law, Harry Gallup, Loren Weaverling, and William Boyer; and a daughter-in-law, Trudy Runge.

Sheckler Colonial Chapel, (641) 749-2210 - www.colonialchapels.com

[Mason City Globe Gazette; 25 AUG 2005]