Velma Aprill

Velma Lorraine (Birr) Aprill, 93, passed away on Friday, April 4, 2025, with family by her side. She was born on Feb. 6, 1932, to the late Elmer and Ruth Birr of Morgan. She graduated from Oconto Falls High School with the class of 1950. Following high school, she worked for the Oconto Falls Hospital as a nurse’s assistant for a period of time. Velma married Donald Aprill on June 14, 1952. Together they raised seven children on the family farm in Morgan. She was very active in church, St. John’s Lutheran of Morgan, serving in various capacities including church secretary, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and the women of the church. She loved her church family. She was also a leader in the Morgan Badgers and Sampson Chiefs 4-H clubs, a member of the Chatty Red Hatters in Oconto Falls. Velma was a great cook and baker. On the farm, she would make loaves of bread from scratch and serve extended family that helped with planting and harvesting of crops. She enjoyed gardening and canning, flowers, knitting (making many afghans), quilting, going to church bazaars and church dinners. She loved watching the birds at the feeders and listening to the frogs every spring and spending time with family. Velma is survived by her seven children, Robert (Linda), Daniel (Susan), Kenneth, Cathy (Lyman) Wocking, Patti (Randle) Konkle, Larry (Nanette), Wendy (Ricky) Soucek. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Jeanne Birr, Evelyn (John) Cayo, Loretta Pleshek, Joanne Tinsler; brothers-in-law, Byron (Mae) Aprill, Herbert (Constance) Aprill; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and close family friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents, Elmer and Ruth Birr; her in-laws, Maynard and Nora (Gaertig) Aprill; brother, Kenneth Birr; sister-in-law, Florence Birr; brothers-in-law, Gwen “Butch” Aprill and Richard Aprill; grandson, Jason C. Soucek; and son-in-law, Curtis Runge. The family would like to thank Pastor Katy for her support and prayers, the nurses at HSHS St. Clare Hospital, Unity Hospice especially Ashley, Ashley V. and Cheryl and also cousin Suzanne Kostichka. Visitation will be at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls on Friday, April 11, from 4-7 p.m. Visitation continues at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Morgan, on Saturday, April 12, after 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Entombment will be at Nicolet Memorial Park/Shrine of Good Shepherd Mausoleum on Monday, April 14, at 2 p.m.