Virginia Ann Mocivnik

Virginia Ann Mocivnik, known as "Ginnie" to her family and many friends, passed away Sept. 12, 2013. Due to her philosophy that what matters most is not how long you live, but rather how well you live, her age will not be disclosed. Her family and friends know that she lived very well for a good, long time. Ginnie was born a coal-miner's daughter March 17, to Frank K. Walenski and Louise (Snelling) Walenski in Johnson County, Ill. She was a home economics major in high school, as well as captain and most valuable player of the boys' basketball team. The team was runner-up to a large Chicago school in the state championship. After high school, she was a pitcher in a professional fast pitch softball league. She also sponsored, coached and played on the Kedzie "Mean Green" women's softball team at the local, state, regional and national levels, winning the Arkansas state championship. Ginnie moved to Chicago and worked as an industrial engineer for the Visking company. In 1963, after marrying the love of her life, John Edward Mocivnik, she decided to join the family business and become an automotive repair technician. The family business was renamed Kedzie Transmission and relocated to Rogers, Ark. Ginnie worked alongside John and his brother, Frank J. Mocivnik. Although she was no longer employed by Visking (which later became Union Carbide and is currently Glad Manufacturing), Ginnie was instrumental in convincing her former bosses to build a factory in Rogers to bring more jobs to the community. Ginnie frequently reminded everyone that Northwest Arkansas did not choose her, but she chose it when she moved here to take advantage of all the resources the location offered. Therefore, she felt obligated to make it a better place than it was when she arrived here. Ginnie also said, "This is my town and my state and I will fight you for it!" As such, she was very active in the community, joining the local chamber of commerce and supporting the Rogers public and private schools. Ginnie was recently inducted into the Rogers Public Schools Foundation Wall of Honor for her service. She lobbied the school superintendent and parks and recreation director to start a girls' athletic program to provide young women with strength, character and confidence, as well as college scholarship opportunities. Ginnie was also active in projects with Altrusa International. Ginnie held the first public meetings to initiate the construction of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) and later served as a director on the airport authority board. Ginnie "harassed" Governor Bill Clinton for a grant to establish the Hwy. 94E Volunteer Fire Department, also becoming a certified firefighter instructor and the department's first fire chief. As more people built homes in the Horseshoe Bend area of Beaver Lake, Ginnie spearheaded an effort to provide city water and fire hydrants. She served as the first water commissioner there. Ginnie also served as a director of the Northwest Arkansas Community Care Foundation. Because Ginnie believed that education is one of the most important vehicles to effect positive societal change, she worked to establish the NorthWest Arkansas Community College, serving on the NWACC Foundation board and as a founding member of the President's Circle. Ginnie was honored to help her friend, Marjorie Marugg Wolfe, create the Single Parent Scholarship Foundation. Ginnie is survived by her loving daughter, Patti Mocivnik (Delcie Kincaid); brother, Harold "Buster" Walenski (Winona); brother-in-law, Frank Mocivnik (Jerrilyn); sister-in-law, Ernestine Svigel (Adolph); brother-in-law, Raymond (Georgia – deceased) Czajkowski; and many beloved nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Hudie Walenski; sisters, Dorothy Davis, Marilyn Bradburn and Alice Walenski; and nephews and nieces. A Visitation will be held Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 from 5-7 p.m. at Rollins Funeral Home Chapel in Rogers. A Second Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 from 5-6 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Rogers. A Funeral Service will begin at 6 p.m. following the second visitation at Grace Baptist Church in Rogers. A Graveside Service will be Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers. The family wishes to thank Ginnie's dear friend, Debbie Jeffcoat, for limitless devotion to her during this past year of her final battle. The family also wishes to thank our "families" at Jamestown Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care, Innisfree and Circle of Life Hospice for the tremendous care and support they provided to Ginnie and the family. Ginnie gave freely of her time and resources to help others in many ways. Because of her deep commitment to community service, the family requests charitable donations or volunteer service in lieu of flowers, please. Checks may be made payable to Grand Savings Bank (please write "Mocivnik Memorial Fund" in the memo line) and mailed to Grand Savings Bank, 3401 SW 2nd St., Suite 115, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. Donations will be dispersed to some of Ginnie's favorite causes, including the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County and NorthWest Arkansas Community College, among others. Arrangements are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers, Ark. www.rollinsfuneral.com.