Virginia Kuske

Funeral services for Virginia E. “Gin” Kuske, age 84, of Wayne, Nebraska, will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Christ Lutheran Church (605 S. 5th St.) in Norfolk, Nebraska. Reverend Gregory Prauner will officiate.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on Christ Lutheran’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church. 

Graveside service and interment will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024, at Riverside Cemetery in Dodge Center, Minnesota, with a luncheon and visitation to follow at Grace Lutheran Church. 

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of local arrangements and Czaplewski Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements in Dodge Center, Minnesota.

Gin passed away Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Kinship Pointe in Wayne, Nebraska.   

Virginia was born October 30, 1939, in Gaylord, MN to Martin and Tena (Peters) Asmus.  She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord, MN.  Virginia graduated from Gaylord High School in 1957.  She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Concordia University, St. Paul. 

On August 6, 1960, Virginia married Donald H. Kuske at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord, MN. 

Virginia and Donald owned and operated the Kuske’s Hardware Hank in Dodge Center, MN from 1972 until 1997.  Gin was widely known as “The Paint Lady,” and loved the challenge of matching color samples that customers brought in. 

Additionally, Virginia served as the church organist, beginning when she was just 17, and continuing for 50 years.  She also served as choir director at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodge Center, MN.  She taught piano lessons from her home for many years.

Gin liked to have a vegetable garden when Don was still living, and enjoyed mowing the lawn, insisting that she do so herself, even after getting her prosthetic leg because “no one else can do it right.”  She was a gifted seamstress, making clothes, costumes, accessories, and quilts for people she knew.  Even as her health declined, she could be found with a sewing machine set up in nursing home rooms that she temporarily occupied, doing mending for staff and sewing bibs for other residents.  Gin loved to cook, bake and collect recipes, even planning to make a pot of soup later on the day that she passed.

Church was a big part of Gin’s life, where she rang handbells, taught VBS, and belonged to mission organizations.  She attended every Sunday and was never hesitant to let her pastors know her opinion of their sermons, good or bad.  

Gin loved music.  She was still playing piano, sometimes accompanying church services at Kinship Pointe and always had music playing on her Alexa device.  She loved listening to her daughter’s and grandchildren’s concerts online or in person.  She especially loved church music and treasured her recent experience at her church’s hymn festival.  She is surely appreciating the music in heaven, and maybe even singing in the choir.

She enjoyed animals very much and had two beloved Shih Tzus who were faithful companions to her in her later years. They accompanied her on her travels to see her children and other relatives in Nebraska, California, and Rhode Island, among other places.  Gin will always be remembered for her independent spirit.  

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald (1998); daughter-in-law, Joyce Kuske; siblings, Marjorie (Marvin) Matthiae, Carol Rydrych, Donald (Esther) Asmus, Maynard (Virginia) Asmus, and Bob (Joanne) Asmus; sister-in-law, Myrna Asmus; and beloved shih tzus, Buttons and Zipper.

She is survived by her son, Paul Kuske of Pierz, MN; daughter, Lisa (Reverend Mike) Moreno of Norfolk; grandchildren, Jing, Caleb, Grant, and Ally; step- grandchildren, Andrew and Aurora; brother-in-law, Bill Rydrych; and nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Orphan Grain Train, Christ Lutheran Church or Christ Lutheran School, all of Norfolk, Nebraska.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

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