Virginia Morton Obituary

Virginia (Ginger/Ginny) Ellen Haase Morton, 99, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2020, in her home at Lake Pepin Plaza I.
    A native of Lake City, and formerly of Slidell, La. (27 years), Plymouth, Minn. (nine years), New Orleans, La. (11 years), Bordeaux, France (began in kindergarten), Munich, Germany and Athens, Greece (baked and decorated the King’s birthday cake). Ginger was the firstborn to Lawrence E. and Ellen C. (Halling) Haase on Sept. 14, 1920  in Lake City. She graduated Lake City High School in 1938, a National Honor Society designee, was their orchestra’s first-chair violinist, and sang in the choir.  She aslo graduated the Minneapolis Business College in 1939 as an executive secretary, Donaldson School of Real Estate in Louisiana in 1984, receiving the highest of five national awards — Million Dollar Sales producer, and in 1986, while at Coldwell Banker — St. Tammany Parish Board of Realtors.
    She was married to Peter H. Kanz, Lt. Col., USAF, July 1943, of Minneiska, Minn for 24 years and divorced.  He died in May 2000. She married Samuel H. Morton, Sgt., USAF, October 1967, of Millsboro, Pa., for over 33 years.  He died in May 2001. Both were WWII veterans and honored after death with bricks displayed at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans. She traveled in Europe with her family as the Air Force transferred for tours of duty several times. Later she worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. for over 25 years in New Orleans and Minneapolis, all credit department positions, secretary, assistant manager, correspondent, head supervisor, manager’s secretary and training director, retiring in 1984. Then as a realtor in Slidell, La. for Coldwell Banker, then Latter and Blum for over 16 years, retiring in 2001, receiving a co-worker signed “Doors of New Orleans” framed poster, being the Queen of Real Estate at 80 years young.
    Beloved Mother of Judith Ellyn (Michael, deceased) Mooring of Fayetteville, Ark., James Peter Kanz of Sun, La. and Janette Lynn (Wayne) Seymour, Slidell, La.; step-mother of daughters, Betty (Tim) Rinaldo of Bossier City, La., Diane, Linda, Kathryn, and son, James, all of Pennsylvania; grandmother of Jason P. (Janell) Kanz, Joy C. (Josh) Feraci, Benjamin P. Dohre and Rachel C. Dohre, all of Slidell, La. and Kristen G. Mooring of Sarasota, Fla.; step-grandmother of Andrew, Lyn, Eric and Joshua, all of Pennsylvania and Rebecca L. Seymour of Greenbrier, Tenn.; great-grandmother of Hannah, Allison and Chad Stockstill, Lydia, Abigail and Benjamin P.  Dohre, Jr. and Rani and Breece Kanz, all of Slidell, La.; step-great-grandmother of Devin Harper, Kapya and Kyl Hazen; great-great-grandmother of three-year-old, Noelle Christine White.
    She is survived in Minnesota by two sisters, Joyce M. (Haase) Zillgitt of Lake City and Gloria A. (Haase) (Steve) Shedlov of Rogers; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Haase of Faribault and Ramona Kanz of Wabasha. Last name relatives that have gone on before include, Halling (relative origins in Stockholm, Wis. and Sweden); Haase (Germany); Kanz (Hungarian part of then Austria-Hungary); and Morton (Scotland). Ginger was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and sisters and most cousins; brothers-in-law, Fred Fick and Curt Zillgitt; Kanz brothers and sisters-in-law, Steve and Violet (and two sons), John and Grace, Lawrence and Dorothy, Alvina and Francis; Morton sisters and brothers-in-law, Emily and Ed Mark, Elizabeth and Bob Lohman. Because of Ginger and Pete being originally from Minnesota, had so many nieces, nephews, grand and now great nieces and nephews, they are really too numerous to mention them all. It’s the same way for Sam’s family from Pennsylvania. The down south family as it grew, stayed there. Ginger always made an effort to travel to spend time with each of her kids, grand and great-grandkids to remain connected. In the summer of 2018, was a wonderful “last” vacation trip that was the last memory she had of seeing most all of them. Showing photos and videos via Facebook was the best and fun way to keep it going. She had a huge heart to love all her family and that was her way of showing it.
    In Slidell, La., she was an active member or held offices in Lioness Club (receiving the Melvin Jones Award); VFW Auxiliary Post 5735 (serving as president there and at Louisiana District 9); AARP; six real estate related category organizations; STCA (computer club); six groups within First Presbyterian Church while a member, an ordained deaconess, elder and sang in the choir; Young at Heart Group; and four card  club groups  (the first while in Gentilly Woods, NOLA). In times past, she was in a bowling league in New Orleans at Mardi Gras Bowl. Those connections led to her love of anything Mardi Gras related, having fun in activities including being a maid in the Krewe of Penates, a mini-Mardi Gras Ball. So, altogether, she went to 25 meetings a month. How she ever found time to help me with my two kids while I was a single parent I never knew. So, the “energizer bunny” probably began with her. Sisters, Joyce and Gloria are the same way. I guess that’s why I believed and trusted that God Almighty would help me to help her. Since returning to Lake City in December 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, she was a member of her home church, once again, at First Lutheran Church, being baptized as an infant.  And continued being active as a member of VFW Auxiliary Post 8729 (transferring). She continued to enjoy card groups, traveling on “sister trips” (one of her favorites was to see relatives in Sweden), high school classmates, especially family and new friends.
    At this time, because of the COVID-19 virus, the graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Lake City on Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. Pastors Tim Ehling/Duane Holst will co-officiate. The family requests any donations be made to: First Lutheran Church, 100 Peace Ridge, Lake City, MN 55041-5500; Wounded Warrior Project; or Service Dogs of Distinction servicedogsofdistinction.org.  After the service for those that are able to participate, in the famed New Orleans celebration of life “Second Line”, white Kleenex (provided) to wave as we wander around to a Polka version of “The Saints Go Marching In”. It is my way of giving her the send off she deserves. All of the family so hoped and prayed that this matriarch reaches the century mark, 100 years young. Well, folks, it was proven that life begins way before birth. Missing that supposed mark by two “earthly” months, two days, God says she passed up 100. Hallelujah. By the way, Ginger will be joining us, as she is in heaven, at 33 years of age (we all will be), able to sing, dance and play music, for she’s run her race, gone through the Pearl Gates and arrived at the Sapphire Throne of the Grace of God with Jesus, humanly sitting at His Right Hand, keeping us filled with His agape love, The Supernatural Transmission of His Electric Energy Force that keeps heaven so “Son" shine bright, that no darkness could ever survive there.     
    Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel of Lake City is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
    She was our Mom and best friend.  All our love, Judy, Jimmy, and Jan/Janette Lynn (Kanz-Dohre) Seymour.