Virginia Elaine Robinson

Virginia Elaine Robinson, neé Capener, age 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 at Oak Park Memory Care Center in Baraboo. 

Virginia, affectionately known as “Ginny” or “Ginge” by all who knew and loved her, was born May 27, 1928, in Madison to Lloyd and Viola Capener (neé Watkins). Virginia graduated from Baraboo High School in 1946 and one of her first jobs was as a telephone operator in Baraboo.

She married her first husband, Wallace Freng, in October of 1952 and she and her husband moved to LaCrosse shortly after. While in LaCrosse they owned and operated a small grocery store. Virgina also worked at Trane Company as a keypunch operator. They moved back to Baraboo in the late 1960’s where Virginia accepted a position with Olin Chemical Corporation at Badger Ammunition Plant in Sauk City. Unfortunately, her husband’s health began to deteriorate and after almost 20 years of marriage, he passed away.

It was while working at her job at Olin (Badger Ammunition Plant) that she met her husband-to-be, Ray Robinson. Virginia and Ray were married in a small ceremony at “The Little Brown Church” in Nashua, Iowa in 1972. After tying the knot, the couple took job transfers with Olin which brought them to Bethalto, Illinois, a town just across the river from St. Louis. Despite the distance, Ginge always made time for family, and she and Ray continued to visit Baraboo frequently for holidays and in the summer, enjoying family gatherings, camping trips and doting on their many nieces and nephews.

After Ginge retired from her job as Inventory Specialist at Olin Chemical, it did little to slow her down! She pursued her Master Gardener certification and she and Ray enjoyed tending their beautiful rural property which included a large garden, bee hives, fruit trees and a woodland creek. Ginge was a huge animal lover and could never turn away a stray that needed a home. From her big outside dogs to her cats, and the notoriously spoiled poodles “Cotton Gin” and “Sugar Ray,” she gave them all a loving home. Ginge also was a member of the local Homemakers Club and was an avid crafter, which she still enjoyed at Memory Care until very recently.

Ginge always had an adventurous spirit. She and Ray enjoyed traveling, and took several trips with Ginge’s brother Norm and his wife Mary. They were huge fans of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and attended many home games there with friends. They also attended many events and theater productions at the Municipal Opera.

In 1999, after Ray began experiencing health issues, they moved back home to Baraboo to be closer to family. After coming back to Baraboo, Ray was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and as Ray’s health declined, Ginge became his caretaker until his death in 2007, always with loving patience and the eternal optimism that grew to define her.

Even in her later years, Ginge always took pride in her appearance, and enjoyed wearing fashionable outfits and getting her nails done. She could frequently be seen out and about in downtown Baraboo socializing with friends. In 2016, Ginge moved to the Oak Park Memory Care Center, where she received excellent and compassionate care until her passing on May 20, just one week before her 97th birthday. Although her gradual cognitive decline robbed her of her memories, it never dimmed her positive and energetic spirit. This is how she will be remembered and will be forever missed.

Ginge is survived by brother, Norm (Mary) Capener; stepdaughter, Wanda (Guy) Goode and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by husband Ray Robinson; parents, Lloyd (Viola) Capener; brothers, Harold (Margaret) Capener and Dennis (Lynn) Capener; sister, Arlene (Larry) Volz and former husband Wallace Freng.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at New Life Community Advent Christian Church, 1919 Elizabeth St. in Baraboo, with Pastor Jesse Stevens officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Butterfield Cemetery in Excelsior. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation in Virginia’s name to the Sauk County Humane Society.