Obituary Posted: 6/30/04
Virginia Marie Poorker, died at her home in Pine City on June 21, 2004 at the age of 62 years. Virginia, the daughter of Gerrit and Marjorie (Naley) Schmidt, was born Sept. 20, 1941 in Minneapolis. She was lovingly known to her family and friends as Ginny.
A gifted musician since the age of five, Ginny played piano for various activities while a student at Mound High School in the Twin Cities. During her high school years she continued her studies at the MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis and after graduating from High School in 1959 she studied pipe organ at Mercer University.
Ginny loved music and played guitar and organ as well as the piano. For more than 15 years she played at the First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, several years playing in Macon, Georgia. and the past ten years at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City. She also played at many churches throughout Minnesota. Before her death, Ginny worked at East Central Regional Library as a bookmobile librarian and as organist at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City.
In 1960, Ginny was wed to Cecil Taylor and four children were born to them, Kristin, Mark, Tom, and Bonnie. Ginny married Robert Poorker in 1990, and was widowed in 1998. In her spare time she enjoyed going shopping, cooking, quilting, knitting, and of course, her music.
She is survived by her children: Kristin Alberto of Marietta, Ga.; Mark and Shelly Taylor and their children, Bronte and Ross Taylor, all of Marietta, Ga.; Thomas Taylor and partner Kyle Dearen, of Memphis, Tenn., and Bonnie Taylor of Duluth, Ga; and her mother, Marjorie Schmidt of North Branch. She was preceded in death by her father, Gerrit Schmidt, and her husbands, Cecil D. Taylor and Robert Poorker.
Funeral services were June 24, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pine City with the Rev. Glen Kleppe officiating. Music was by organists Marge Hawkinson, Katy Kleppe and soloist Kyle Dearen. Honorary casket bearers were Ray Ovick and Ken Hawkinson. Casket bearers were Harley Jahnz, Dallas Carpenter, Kyle Dearen, John Kleppe, Dennis Louden and Marcus Althoff. Interment was in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Rush City. Arrangements by Swanson Chapel of Pine City.
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