In Memory of

Virginia

"Gingy"

Awe

(Collins)

Obituary for Virginia "Gingy" Awe (Collins)

Awe, Virginia “Gingy” Collins

Died peacefully July 27, 2019 at the age of 95. Beloved mother of Patty Awe Welch (Neal) of Houston, TX; Margaret Awe Callan (Joe) of Minneapolis, MN; Tom Awe (Kathy) of St. Paul, MN; John Awe (Linda) of Minneapolis, MN; Molly Awe Halliday (Marty) of Franklin, TN. Proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren: Virginia Welch Peters and Peter Welch; Patrick and Kathleen Callan; Harry, Elliot, Hattie and Lucy Awe; Emma and Clare Halliday; and Greer and Margot Peters. Preceded in death by her husband, David Awe; parents, Harold and Virginia Collins; and brothers John Michael Collins and Neil Collins. Survived by her sisters Mary Clare Freeman, Margaret Kilby and Patricia Bortscheller.

Gingy was born March 15, 1924 in Rhinelander, WI to Harold and Virginia Collins. In 1944, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and was assigned to the Signal Corps at Arlington Hall. When WWII ended, she was reassigned to the Pentagon with the rank of Sergeant. Gingy then returned to the University of Wisconsin where she was elected President of her sorority, Alpha Phi, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. On September 20, 1947, Gingy and David Awe were married in Wausau, WI. After a couple of years in New Jersey, Gingy and Dave moved back to Wisconsin and resided first in Oshkosh, followed by Wauwatosa, De Pere, and Mequon. Gingy was a member of the Milwaukee Curling Club, Woman’s Club of Wisconsin and a truly devoted fan of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

A memorial Mass will be held Monday, August 5, 2019 at 3 pm at Alexian Village, 9301 N. 76th St., Milwaukee. Visitation will be held from 2 pm until the start of Mass. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charity of your choice.