Virginia Christians

Virginia G. Christians, 80, of Kanawha, passed away Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Wright Christian Reformed Church, 1730 East 130^rdStreet in rural Kanawha, with Pastor Jason Semans officiating.  Burial will take place in the church cemetery. For those who can stay, lunch will be served at the church.  Please join us in celebrating and sharing memories of Virginia’s life.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Friday, March 24, 2023 at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East 2^nd Street in Kanawha. 

Virginia Gayle Delger Christians was born into this life on October 29, 1942 in Belmond, Iowa and returned to her heavenly Father on March 18, 2023.   Virginia attended Kanawha Community High School and majored in music at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  She started taking piano lessons in third grade and became an accomplished musician mastering piano, organ, flute and piccolo.  Virginia also loved to sing and was a member of the Calvin College choir and subsequently local community choruses from Kanawha and Renwick.  She was asked to play the piano and organ for church services as well as countless weddings and funerals and taught piano lessons on the side. She helped husband Ron organize events for the church youth group and was a pen pal for prisoners – the latter only one example of just how nonjudgmental she truly was to people from all walks of life.  

 In 1990, Virginia was blessed with a second chance at life through liver transplantation for a progressively debilitating autoimmune disease.  At that time, the curative surgery was novel and the prognosis limited (3-5 years).  However, this miraculous gift together with Virginia’s fighting spirit, gave her another 32 years to help participate in, and shape, the course of her family.  In fact, her greatest joy in life was playing an active role in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great grandchild. 

Over the years as her health declined, Virginia especially enjoyed visiting with friends from near and far, reading books of all kinds and de-stressing through adult coloring books.  She was always a phone call away for anyone in crisis and she cherished visiting with friends and family on the telephone.  We take comfort in the fact that she is now at peace rejoicing in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Delia Delger and her two infant sons Troy and Jeffrey Christians.  She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years Ronald H. Christians of Clarion, Iowa, daughter Karen Christians Parham of St Joseph, Missouri, son Todd and wife Diana Christians of Kanawha, Iowa, daughter Kathleen Christians of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and son Charles and wife Kelley Christians of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Surviving grandchildren include Taylor Christians, Joshua and wife Brookelyn Christians, Danielle Parham, Arianna and Harper Christians and great grandson Lincoln Christians.  Virginia is also survived by her brothers Tim Delger and wife Linda of Des Moines, Iowa and Paul Delger of Kanawha, Iowa.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28.