(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Virginia Gene Schulz, known to family and friends as Ginger, passed away on December 26, 2018, at the Norse Home in Seattle, Washington. Ginger was born on August 3, 1925 in Tacoma, Washington to John Frederic and Margaret (Mansfield) Van Gilder.

The family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1930, when Ginger was five years old. Ginger grew up in Ketchikan and graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1943. She married Louis Carl Veerman in Ketchikan in 1944 and they had three children while living in Ketchikan.

In 1958 the family moved to Kodiak and lived there until 1964. During their time in Kodiak, Ginger worked for the City of Kodiak and was a volunteer librarian for the public library.

Her first marriage ended in 1964 and she returned to Ketchikan, where she worked in the clerk’s office for the Alaska Court System. She married Kenneth H. Larsen in Ketchikan in 1965 and they enjoyed a happy marriage until he died of cancer in 1973.

Ginger worked as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society for many years thereafter. Ginger married Ellsworth W. (“Dutch”) Schulz in 1975 and relocated to Anchorage, where she continued to work for the Alaska Court System. Ginger and Dutch enjoyed many happy years together in Anchorage, at Settlers’ Bay on Knik Arm, and at their cabin on Lake Tyone. Ginger and Dutch spent one entire winter season at their Lake Tyone cabin from ice-up through break-up and they entertained family and friends in that beautiful remote Alaska setting for many summers.

Ginger was a good cook who loved to entertain and she was an accomplished seamstress and knitter. She was an avid reader throughout her life, and she continued to enjoy audiobooks after macular degeneration robbed her of her eyesight. She was an active book club member and a member of PEO during the years she lived in Anchorage.

Ginger moved to Seattle in 2006 to take up residency at the Norse Home and she lived there throughout the remainder of her life, where she formed many friendships and enjoyed visits from family members and friends. She enjoyed going to the opera and to lunch or dinner at local restaurants, and on shopping trips with her daughters.

Ginger was preceded in death by her husband, Ellsworth Schulz, her brother, Jack Van Gilder and her sister-in-law, Viola Van Gilder. She is survived by her sister, Alice Garner, son, Louis R. (Dick) Veerman, daughters, Gretchen DeBoer and Linda Wallin, six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

At Ginger’s request, there will be no service. Remembrances of Ginger are welcome and may be sent to Dick Veerman, 4220 Endeavor Circle, Anchorage, Alaska 99515.

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