Galleger, Virgia 'Virg' M. Ockenfels

Virgia “Virg” M. Ockenfels Galleger, 86, of Cedar Rapids, went peacefully to her Heavenly Father Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, by the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A rosary will be held Sunday at 6:30 p.m., with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Friends may also visit Monday at the funeral home from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.

Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Troutman of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pam Galleger of Cedar Rapids; sister, Genrose Schmuecker; sister-in-law, Delores Davis of Des Moines; best friend, Richard Bading of Cedar Rapids; and many nurse friends and co-workers.

Virg was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cletus Galleger (Sept. 5, 1987); daughter, Patricia Ann Galleger Inger (2002); son-in-law, Louis Inger (2003); son-in-law, John Troutman (2010); brother, Donald Ockenfels; sister-in-law, Margene Ockenfels; stepmother, Mary Ockenfels; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Virg was born June 26, 1924, the oldest child of Victor J. and Alice M. Birmingham Ockenfels, in Norway, Iowa. She grew up in the Norway-Watkins area most of her life. Virg attended Norway St. Michael's grade school through the eighth grade, then Norway High School from 1938 to 1942. She then attended Mercy School of Nursing from 1942 to 1945. She married Cletus Galleger in 1947 in Watkins. She worked at Mercy Hospital and was night supervisor from 1955 until 1966 (she was the first layperson to be night supervisor at Mercy after many years of nuns holding this position). After that she was offered a job at Kirkwood per the request of Sue Cullogan (deceased) to teach the first class of LPNs; this position lasting from 1966 until 1972. From then until retirement in 1989,Virg worked in labor and delivery at Mercy.

After retirement per the request of the volunteer supervisor, Virg volunteered at the 10th Street entrance at Mercy Medical Center. She has worked 44 years in nursing and 20+ years volunteering. Virg and her friend Lois Sterenchuck (deceased) were the first to arrange the Mercy retirees luncheon. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Mercy Auxiliary, and the VFW Auxiliary.

Memorials may be directed to the family or to St. Patrick Catholic Church.

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