Voparil, Virginia L.

Virginia L. Voparil, 91, a lifelong resident of Iowa City, died Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Memorials in Virginia's name can be made to the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic. Online condolences can be sent to her family through the Web at .

Virginia Lois Gartzke was born July 23, 1922, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Herbert and Margaret (Tucker) Gartzke. She graduated from City High School and a few years later, on April 12, 1942, married Louis Voparil in Kahoka, Mo. A number of years after their marriage, Virginia and Louis opened “Grandpa's Grocery” in Tiffin and together they ran their store while at the same time raising a family and working at the University Hospitals as a clerk in registration and the emergency room. After 30 years at the hospital, Virginia retired but still had to keep busy, and for a number of years worked at Walmart as a greeter.

Virginia served as a Girl Scout leader for several years, was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, a position and an organization in which she took great pride.

Her family includes her children, Terry Voparil (Julie) of Iowa City, Sandra Farnsworth (James) of McGregor, Iowa, and Rick Voparil (Dawn) of West Liberty; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Louis; parents; and two brothers, Robert and John Gartzke.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Virginia's family and her services.

Published Nov. 4, 2013, in The Gazette