DUDLEY – Virginia L. “Ginny” (Pickard) Koebke, 86, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2021 joining her husband of almost 72 years, Henry L. “Sonny” Koebke, who died on May 1, 2021. Ginny and Sonny spent a lifetime together at Walnut Lane Farm, enjoying their summers at Baker Pond Camp and in their retirement years at their camp in Charleston, Maine.
She leaves her two children, Anne E. French and her partner Andy Helgerson of Charlton, and James H. Koebke and his wife Krisanne of Dudley; 5 grandchildren, Holden French, Lane French and his partner Morgan Donovan, and August, Curtis and Nolan Koebke. She was preceded in death by her sister Joyce Boniface.
She was born on February 13, 1935 in Charlton, the daughter of George and Alice (Walls) Pickard and lived in Dudley most of her life.
Mrs. Koebke first worked as a mail delivery driver in Dudley. She then drove school bus for Project Coffee for many years before she retired. She dearly loved her grandsons and “Nana’s Kitchen” was always open for them. She also deeply enjoyed being involved in the 4-H community, watching and participating with her kids and grandkids at many dairy cattle shows over the years insuring that two generations were able to experience the joys of 4-H.
She loved antiquing with her sister Joyce, finding a good deal at yard sales and flea markets, going to diners and spending special times with her girlfriends and her niece Laurie Boniface.
Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Worcester County 4-H, 7 Midstate Drive, Suite 102, Auburn, MA 01501 to the attention of Meg McDermott.