Wilhelmina was a devout Christian and a faithful servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a life-time member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, IN, where she served on the Alter Guild for 60 years! She also served in the Health and Caring Ministry, as a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, the Stephen Ministry, the LWML, the funeral committee, as a vacation bible school worker, as PTA chair of Mt. Calvary Lutheran School, a member of the Ft. Wayne Botanical Garden Conservators, and as a member of the Second Time Around Band.
After graduating from Alexandria High School in 1944, Wilhelmina attended Indiana-Purdue University in Ft. Wayne, briefly before enrolling at the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1948 as a Registered Nurse, and worked at Lutheran Hospital from 1948-1953, when she married Harry McGinnis on April 15, 1953. After raising their three children she returned to work at Lutheran Hospital for an additional 20 years, from 1973-1993. Also, during this period, she returned to college part-time and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the College of St. Francis in 1979.
Wilhelmina was married to Harry McGinnis for 33 years until his death in 1986. She later married Lester Doell until his death in 1997. They were married for 3 years.
In addition to all of Wilhelmina’s accomplishments, she was a loyal and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved her Lord and family, and looked forward to the Brown family reunions that took place every other year.
Wilhelmina is survived by her children; Harry (Linda) McGinnis; Lisa (John) Hensler; Kevin McGinnis; grandchildren, Kathryn (Devon) Woodard; John Aaron Hensler; Hannah (fiancée David) McGinnis and Jonah McGinnis; and great grandchild, Alice Woodard, sister Josephine (Ron) Ferguson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Henry W. Brown, Herman A. Brown and Carl E. Brown, sisters Wanda Tulowitzky, Kibbel, Indermuehle and Margret Miller, Schessler, husbands Harry McGinnis and Lester Doell.
Services celebrating Wilhelmina’s life, legacy, and faith will take place at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Ft. Wayne, IN, on Thursday, June 4, 2020, from 2-4PM, and again at 6-8PM. A service will be held at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 1819 Reservation Drive, Ft. Wayne, at 10:00AM, with Pastor Nate officiating. Private interment services will take place in Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, IN.
Memorial donations may be directed to Jared the Comfort Dog at Holy Cross Lutheran Church or The Ft. Wayne Botanical Gardens
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