Virginia Thoma
Virginia Thoma passed away on May 27, 2025, at House of the Dove, Marshfield, Wisconsin, at the age of 90. Virginia was born on July 8,1934, the daughter of Ella (Meske) Holtz and Walter Holtz in Neillsville, Wisconsin. She married Henry Thoma on April 24, 1954, thus living only at her parents’ home and then the Thoma Family Farm.
Virginia attended Neillsville Public Schools and graduated in 1952. She would later go on to attend the UW-Marshfield Center earning credits toward her associate’s degree in music and then attending many music workshops throughout the state (Eau Claire, Stevens Point, LaCrosse, and Madison).
Virginia loved music in all its forms, playing french horn in her high school band, piano, and organ. She began giving piano lessons in her home, at her students’ homes, and at school for over 60 years, reaching, teaching, and touching over 200 students’ lives during that time. Virginia’s pride and joy was the piano business she built and was just as proud of her students and what they accomplished. Each year she would put on a piano recital showcasing their talents in the form of solo performances, duets, and trios for parents and community. At her teaching height she taught 30 students/year, many of which performed and competed in WMTA (Wisconsin Music Teachers Association) District Auditions earning points entitling them to go on to state competitions. She also accompanied many students performing in the area Solo and Ensemble competitions each year, as well as accompanying the Neillsville Players Theatre. She was a member of WMTA, MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) MAMTA (Marshfield Area Music Teachers Association).
Along with her piano business she was an accomplished church organist for Immanuel Lutheran Church of Globe and St. John’s in Christie, Wisconsin…over 50 years of people listening and singing along, performing a virtual recital each week. She was also a choir director and accompanist for church.
Another hobby which became a side business for Virginia was cake decorating. She loved designing and creating masterpieces of wedding cakes, anniversary cakes, birthday cakes, and novelty cakes over 500 over a 60-year span.
Virginia touched an incredible number of lives throughout her years through her music and cake decorating and did this while being a dairy farm wife with twice/day milking, chores, and field work alongside her husband, Henry. She also raised two children and kept meticulous farm books having worked at Neillsville Bank when she was 19.
Virginia also found time (we don’t know where) to take part in Globe Homemakers, Mother’s Club, Knitting Club, Ladies Aid, etc. over the years.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Thoma and her son, Michael Thoma, her sister, Doris Fredrickson, and parents Walter and Ella Holtz. She is survived by her daughter, Patsy (Thoma) McLean and son-in-law, Rod McLean of Monona, WI. She is also survived by her stepdaughter, Kerri Grall (Ken Grall) and grandkids, Kellen and Brieleigh and stepson Chris McLean (Sheri Mclean) and grandkids, Sidney and Johnathon.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Jennie Dux, and brother-in-law, Dan Patey, and many nieces and nephews: Becky Rossman, Darci Mahoney, Karla Pfuhl, Kristy Sischo, Mark Hediger, Mary Holmes, Mitch Hediger, Debbie Grap, Danny Dux, David Dux, Connie Simek, Cathy Johnson, John Patey, Jim Patey as well as many great nieces and nephews and many cousins.
In particular, the family would like to thank Darci Mahoney and Karla Pfuhl for their personal care for Virginia so she could stay in her home this past 14 months. The family would also like to thank Bunny Dux, Kaden Dux, and Bev Writz for also caring for Virginia when a helping hand was needed.
And finally, we wish to thank House of the Dove for their attentive and compassionate care and providing a peaceful and loving environment for Virginia in her final weeks.
Visitation for Virginia will be from 10:00-11:00 on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Globe, Wisconsin, with services and burial held at 11:00-12:00, with Pastor Nathan Wilke officiating. The service will also be live-streamed.
Donations made to Virginia at this time will go to the Lewy Body Dementia Association for further research as well as St. John’s Lutheran School and the Clark County Humane Society as she loved her cats.
Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.
The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Virginia’s family with funeral arrangements.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.