Virginia Niehus

MADISON - Virginia (Ginny) Dale Niehus (nee Rayborn), age 91, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Ginny was born in Champaign, Illinois on May 24, 1922 to Carl and Mattie (Dale) Rayborn. Her mother passed away when she was 10. Her father then married Eva Bruce Colson (whom the family affectionately called "Gram.") Ginny is survived by her children, Allen (Jean) Niehus, Madison, Donald of Green Bay, and Patricia (Robert) Wendt of Nokomis, Florida. She is further survived by three grandsons, Gregory Allen (Jen) Niehus, St. Paul, MN, Jeffrey Robert (Katie) Niehus, Milwaukee, and David Michael Niehus (Tonya) of Eau Claire and her great grandson, Cole Allen Niehus, St. Paul, MN.
. Ginny attended Urbana High and Illinois Commercial College. She met the love of her life, Bob, in Urbana, IL when he was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base. They had a short courtship, married September 5, 1943 and soon after their wedding, Bob was sent overseas for two years during WW II. Upon his return, they resided in Urbana, Illinois until moving to Madison in 1953. Ginny worked at several part-time jobs before working in the College of Engineering's Dean's Office and Materials Science Program, UW-Madison, retiring in 1982 after 26 years of service. In her active years, Ginny loved to bowl, dance, play volleyball, euchre and 500. She was a member of XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest), Kayra, and Wisconsin Outers. She was a long-standing member of Bethany United Methodist Church.
Ginny was predeceased by her husband, Bob, on August 30, 1985. She was also predeceased by her parents, her stepmother, her sister, brother-in-law and nephew.
Ginny requested a private, family service. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Ginny's family wishes to express our thanks to the staff at Wynwood of Madison and Clare Bridge of Sun Prairie for their care and compassion. Memorials may be sent to Heartland Hospice, 2810 Crossroads Dr., Suite 1300, Madison, WI 53718 or Alzheimer's Assoc. of SW Wisconsin, 7818 Big Sky Dr., Suite 109, Madison, WI 53719.