Virginia Pearl Kroeckel (Ginny), of Caledonia, MI, gently passed away on the 2nd of January 2026 to watch over her family from a higher place. 

Ginny and her beloved husband, Rod, just celebrated 63 years of marriage. What started out as a blind date led to a lifelong romance and life together. 

Ginny loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and most recently a great-grandmother, but also a trusted and energetic friend. Always one to give of her time, she spent a life volunteering, organizing, and keeping a schedule of dancing, card playing, social organizing, and being active in her neighborhood. 

Her independent energy extended to her years as an X-ray technician and working with several doctors through her long career. She also had a lifelong love of sewing, from beautiful dresses to baptism gowns, costumes, and infamously matching shirts for the family for vacations. 

Born in Detroit in 1938, Ginny retained a love of experiencing cities and spent a life of traveling, from epic family trips out West to various world ports of call with Rod.

Ginny is survived by the indelible memories she has left family, friends, and all who knew her. 

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026  at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 1253 52nd St. SE, Kentwood, with Rev. John Vallier officiating.  Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may meet the family Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (PORT).