Virgene Ruth Druschel, 86, went home to join her Lord and Savior on June 8, 2010, with her son, Robert, son-in-law, Rick Boehm, and friend, Polly Rongstad, at her bedside. \r\nVirgene was born on the family farm northeast of Nora Springs, Iowa to Herbert George and Clara (Steidl) Hartwig. She was baptized in St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Nora Springs and was an active church member. Her mother died when she was 9 years old. Virgene's aunt, Lola Hartwig, came out to the farm and helped her father raise her and brother, DeVere, who was 5 years old. Virgene was an active member in the local 4H chapter through high school. She graduated from Nora Springs High School in 1941. Following high school, she went on to Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1945. \r\nVirgene married Lindsay Druschel on August 25, 1947, in Nora Springs. The couple then resided in Rockford, Iowa. She taught at the Rockford High School and worked as a secretary in a law office. She gave birth to daughter, Edith, in 1951, and son, Robert, in 1952. In 1957, the family moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Over the years, she enjoyed numerous trips back to Iowa to visit relatives. She became a life long member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Eau Claire and occasionally taught Sunday school.\r\nStarting in 1959, Virgene spent many of her evenings teaching shorthand and typing at the Technical College on First Avenue. After 2 years, she began teaching full-time in Business Education. In 1962, Virgene was relocated with part of the school to the new buildings located on Clairemont Avenue and the remainder of the school operations moved in 1967. A Student Services and Marketing Department was developed in 1964. At that time, Virgene began working half time in each of the 2 new departments. That same year, the fall picnic was initiated and Virgene was put in charge of organizing the event that still exists today. She helped to draw up the policy for a student government. Each department was represented on the council. She helped foster a program that awarded outstanding achievement within each department. As busy as she was, Virgene went to school part-time at University of Wisconsin - Stout in Menomonie, WI and received a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling. In 1965, Virgene helped the students produce the first school newspaper. Within the next 2 years, she was also placed in charge of Student Housing and Attendance. She continued with these duties as well as counselor to Business Education and Marketing until her retirement in July 1988. Since she was a leap year baby, she had just turned "sweet 16" when she retired after 29 years of service at the Technical College (now known as Chippewa Valley Technical College). During that time, she had seen the school grow from a faculty of 20 with 300 students to a faculty of 207 and 3,500 students. After retirement, Virgene enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends.\r\nUnfortunately, Virgene broke her leg in 1991 and had many complications over the years that affected her mobility. er Her husband, Lindsay, passed away in 1998 from cancer and daughter, Edith, passed away in 2000 from cancer as well. Virgene continued to live at home with many friends and relatives checking on her and visiting. She enjoyed and spent much of her time at home corresponding, researching and documenting the Hartwig and Druschel ancestry with her nephew, Dennis Hartwig, of Mason City, Iowa. \r\nIn the fall of 2005, Virgene moved in Grace Willowbrook Assisted Living. She enjoyed living there and making many new friends. She was able to remain there until the spring of 2007 when she moved to Clairemont Health Care Center for Rehabilitation. It was there in 2008, that Virgene celebrated her 21st leap year birthday with family, friends and former colleagues from the Technical College. \r\nVirgene will be met in heaven by her husband, Lindsay; daughter, Edith (Boehm); infant brother, Eugene Hartwig; brother, DeVere Hartwig; parents Herbert and Clara Hartwig; aunts Lola and Cora Hartwig. Her surviving loved ones include her son Robert Druschel of Eau Claire, Deborah Druschel of Key Largo, FL; granddaughter, Jessica (Kevin) Best of Parrish, FL; son-in-law, Rick (Edith) Boehm of Red Wing, MN; sister-in-law, Gloria HararHtwig (DeVere) of Mason City, IA; two nephews, Dennis (Linda) Hartwig of Mason City, IA and Daryl Hartwig of Eldora, IA; niece, Debra Tozier of Mason City, IA; and numerous other family and friends. \r\nThe family wishes to thank the staff at The Clairemont Health Care Center for the loving care and concern that they gave Virgene over the years. \r\nFuneral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2010, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd with Rev. Thomas W. Bryan officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery in the Town of Washington. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Virgene's memory to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1120 Cedar St., Eau Claire, WI 54703, or a charity of the donor's choice.

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