NEWHALL:  Virginia Marie (Kemme) Kerkman, age 96, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019 at the West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall with Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating.  Interment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.  Her family will greet friends from 10:00 AM, until service time Tuesday at the church in Newhall.   A memorial fund has been established.

Virginia was born on December 27, 1922, in Atkins, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bartosh) Kemme.    She graduated from Atkins High School in 1941.  Virginia worked at Merchants Bank and Century Manufacturing, prior to her marriage.   On September 18, 1945, she was united in marriage to Vernon Kerkman in Atkins.  Vernon and Virginia farmed near Van Horne for 2 years and the Kemme farm near Atkins for many years, moving to Newhall in 1977.  She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, the Tabitha Society and Lamplighters.  She sewed many quilts for Lutheran World Relief.  Virginia enjoyed playing in the Newhall Rejects Band and attending Wednesday morning coffee club.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

Virginia is survived by her children, William Kerkman of Newhall, Rita (Bill) Hammitt of Portsmouth, IA; three grandchildren, Rebecca (Adam) Mohning of Omaha, NE, Erick (Courtney) Kerkman of Atkins, Wesley (Corin) Hammitt of Hugo, MN;  6 great-grandchildren, Danielle, and Daxton Kerkman, Carter and Brant Mohning, and Anders, and Espen Hammitt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother Anne Kemme; her husband Vernon in 2004; and her daughter-in-law Kathy Kerkman in 2010.

On-line condolences may be left at www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com