Virginia Evelyn Amling

1923 - 2021

Virginia Evelyn Amling
Born: December 26, 1923
Died: March 29, 2021
Virginia Evelyn "Ginger" Amling died on March 29, 2021, at the age of 97, surrounded by her loving family. Ginger was born December 26, 1923 in Twin Falls, Idaho, the oldest of six children born to Halley and Lillian (Peterson) Butz. When she was two, the family moved to Kendallville, Indiana near the Butz ancestral home.
Ginger graduated from Kendallville High School in 1941 and Valparaiso University in 1944. At Valpo she met and was engaged to Arthur "Art" Amling. They maintained a three-year courtship of daily letters from the time he enlisted in the U.S. Army in November,1942 until his discharge in February,1946. They married on September 22, 1946 in Kendallville and settled in Des Plaines, Illinois, near Amling relatives. Ginger taught high school Spanish and English for two years in Plymouth, Indiana prior to their marriage, and later regularly substitute taught for the Maine Township High Schools.
Art and Ginger enjoyed spending time with their large circle of friends and family. They traveled the world over, often traveling with a group of friends or with their entire family. Ginger was an excellent seamstress and made wedding dresses for both her daughters. She also enjoyed quilting, photography, and had a lifelong love of language, including editing, reading, and learning and teaching Latin.
Ginger was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Des Plaines for over 70 years, as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher and director, and Confirmation teacher, as well as serving in many other capacities there. She was a participant and leader in many other groups that were meaningful to her, particularly Valparaiso University Guild, where she served as National President. She served on the Board of Directors of Valparaiso University and promoted Valpo whenever and wherever she could. She also volunteered with the Auxiliary of the Lutheran Council of Greater Chicago, Recording for the Blind, the Northwest of Us computer user group, and many other civic and charitable groups.
In 2017 Ginger moved to Crystal Lake, IL to be closer to family and became active at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake.
She is survived by her sister, Esther Leonard of Idaho; children, Michael Amling (partner Carol Riphenburg) of Wheaton, Mickey (Bill) Broman of Crystal Lake, and Cindi Dase of Schaumburg; grandchildren, Heather (Rob) Bernhard, Hilary Swanson (Chris Navta), and Peter Amling; and great-grandchildren, Nathan, Lillian, Joseph, Grace, Laurel, and James. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Art, on March 15, 2000; brothers Lee, Glen, Ray, and David (in infancy) Butz; and son-in-law, Dick Dase.
Interment will be private. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to Valparaiso University (www.valpo.edu). Funeral care provided by G.L. Funeral Home and Cremation Care. For information, please call 847-699-9003 or visit www.glhillsfuneralhome.com.