Volunteering away the boredom

ST. MARYS - Virginia "Ginny" Loyer has spent more than four decades doing volunteer work at Zion Lutheran Church. Volunteer work is one of many ways she fights boredom and depression.

"I have to have something to do," Loyer said. "It fills up your time. I don't have depression very often. I don't know if it's because I'm not subject to it or if it's because I'm busy. You have to keep busy, and my kids and grandkids are scattered all over the place. None of them live within two hours."

Loyer is a 1953 graduate of Edgerton High School and moved in 1965 to the city with her husband, Frederick. She joined Zion Lutheran the same year and has filled a number of roles, including Sunday school teacher, bell choir and vocal choir director, historian and member of Dorcas Quilters and Women of the Church.

"I'm down here most days for something or other," Loyer said. "I don't do it for recognition. I just do it to keep busy, and I'd encourage others to do the same. It's work that is useful, worthwhile. We have trouble getting volunteers to teach Sunday school. They think they don't know enough to teach, but that's how it was when I started. You learn as you go. You teach and you gain knowledge."

The Women of the Church do mission work, creating quilts, health and school kits and baby clothes. The Dorcas Quilters take orders from the public for quilts and then recycle the proceeds into charitable efforts. Last year, the fundraiser helped seven charities.

Loyer said her favorite effort is probably in the role of historian. She helps people wade through old church documents which are written in German and in a flowery script that is often difficult to read. The church keeps a variety of documents such as minutes of council meetings and records of confirmations, marriages, deaths and baptisms.

Loyer can also take visitors on tours of the church, pointing out items like windows and pews that came from a building that was replaced in 1973. The alter, light fixtures and Tiffany windows in the chapel are from the old church. The cross and ball in the foyer once graced its steeple.

"We saved everything we could possibly save from the old church," Loyer said. "I'm not much for writing it (the history) down, but I sure like to tell it."

In addition to her volunteer work, Loyer keeps busy doing a variety of domestic crafts.

"I have a lot of hobbies, scrap booking, sewing - I used to make my kids' clothes - quilting, knitting, crocheting," Loyer said. "I get bored with one and then do something else."

Loyer said she also enjoys traveling, which gives her the chance to not only visit new places but to see her family.

The Loyers, who will celebrate 53 years of marriage in June, have four children, Katherine Will, Michael, Cheryl Beinekel and Charles Matthew. They also have nine grandchildren and one on the way.

Loyer is a retired schoolteacher.