Virginia Lee Balanda's Obituary
Virginia Balanda of Harrison Township passed away peacefully on May 4, 2020, in the comfort of her family in Big Rapids, Michigan.
She was born July 16, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Frederick and Nina Wanamaker, but was raised in Bay City, Michigan. Virginia graduated from Central Michigan College of Education in 1949 with degrees in English, Spanish and Chemistry. She studied in Saltillo, Mexico and Madrid, Spain while earning a Master's Degree from the University of Michigan. She taught high school in Bay City, Lapeer, Detroit, and Harrison Township. While teaching at Cooley High School in Detroit, Virginia met Mindaugas Balanda at a Detroit Tip Toppers event, a club for tall people. They were married in 1959, and had five sons.
A 48-year resident of Harrison Township, Michigan, she sang in the First Presbyterian Church Choir, was a lifelong golfer and Detroit Tigers fan. Virginia was a member of the International Shipmasters Association (ISMA) Ladies Auxiliary. In the last 8 years she was a resident of the Village of East Harbor in New Baltimore, Michigan, where she enjoyed building new friendships and participating in an active life of book clubs, spelling-bee competitions, and singing in choir. Virginia lived a full life of helping and encouraging others to do their best.
She was predeceased by her husband Mindaugas Balanda, her parents, brother Frederick Wanamaker, and sister Nancy Perkins.
Virginia is forever cherished by her five sons, Mykolas (Tina), Peter, Tadas (Julie), Andrew (Joanne), and Alexander (Jurate); her 16 grandchildren, Mick, Chloe, David, Noah, Jakob, Caleb, Gabriel, Lisa, Joseph, Christian, Audre, Danielle, Laura, Sofia, Calvin, and Anneliese; and her brother-in-law Gediminas Balanda.
Service arrangements will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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