Virginia Mary "Gin" Kretlow
Virginia M. Kretlow. Of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born to Eternal Life October 27th, 2023, age 83 years. Preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Donald. Dear mother of Mary and Michael (Tatiana). Loving grandmother of Jennifer, David, Valerie (Edgar), and Joseph. Proud great-mother of Penny, Jason, River, Lily. Fon sister-in-law Linda Nuoffer as well as many relatives and friends. Preceded in death by her brothers Rodman Nuoffer and Robert Nuoffer.
She graduated from West Division High School where she met her dear lifelong friend Judy (Schuppe) Riedy. Gin worked at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance before getting married. She met Don in her early twenties when she moved across the street from him, fell in love, got married and then bought the house they both shared until they passed. Gin enjoyed volunteering as a lunchroom mother, playground monitor and working at the church rectory where Mary and Mike went to grade school, Mother of Perpetual Help. She enjoyed bowling for most of her life and was in several leagues that included many of her relatives. She also enjoyed traveling to National Bowling Tournaments all over the country. Mom loved playing Sheepshead with her aunts, uncles, and cousins at the almost every month family card nights. Later in life Gin and Don enjoyed taking many vacations to warm locations with their dear friends Judy and Dan Riedy. Gin enjoyed reading and was involved in the neighborhood watch as well as a voting pole worker. She loved being with her grandkids and great grandkids at family celebrations as well as her nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She fought Alzheimer’s valiantly for more than eight years and held onto her happy, loving personality through to the end. She passed peacefully without any discomfort to go on and meet Don to slow dance in heaven and chat his ear off.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following:
Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin supporting the care givers providing the resources to help manage and aid the person with the disease along with research to find a cure:
Mary’s Walk to End ALZ (Walk was on September 17th, 2023 but donations can be made until the end of the year) link:
http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=16865&pg=personal&px=12447133
Visitation will be at Jelacic Funeral Home, 5639 West Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218, on Saturday, November 4th, 2023, from 10:30 am until the time of service at 12 Noon.