VIRGINIA KROHN
Virginia Krohn of Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully Sept. 27, 2026, at the age of 88.
Virginia was born in Chicago, Illinois, June 11, 1938, and grew up in Black River Falls, WI, where she remembered having a very happy childhood. Proudly 100% Norwegian, Virginia carried her Norwegian heritage with her throughout her life, taking great pride in her family background, traditions, and history.
As a child, Virginia spent countless hours with friends and cousins riding horses and enjoying the freedom and simple pleasures of growing up in the country. She developed a lifelong love of animals, especially horses and dogs. One of her greatest joys as a young girl was the horses her father bought for her, beginning a love of animals that remained with her throughout her life. She and her mother also enjoyed traveling by train to Chicago for shopping trips, memories that remained special to Virginia for years to come.
Virginia was the daughter of Dr. Irwin Krohn, a physician, and Isadore Barber Krohn. After graduating from high school, she married and began raising a family. She spent much of her life in the St. Paul area, where she built a home and a life centered around family, animals, and the many interests that made her uniquely herself.
Virginia’s Norwegian heritage was one of the great loves of her life. Over the years, she made more than 50 trips to Norway, returning again and again to a country that held a special place in her heart. During the past 25 years especially, Virginia formed many close and lasting friendships in Norway. These friendships became an important part of her life, and her many visits allowed her to deepen her connection to Norwegian culture, history, traditions, and the people she came to know and love.
Virginia shared 40 years of her life with her partner, Merlin “Mert” McWilliams. Together, they shared a passion for antiques and built an online business buying and selling antiques on eBay.
Virginia was a lifelong antique dealer and a true expert in her field. Her love of antiquing took her from New York to California and many places in between, as well as back to Norway time and time again. She was particularly knowledgeable and respected for her expertise in Norwegian antiques and jewelry—a passion that connected deeply with her proud Norwegian heritage.
Her reputation as an antique dealer and knowledgeable collector traveled with her. Wherever she went, people knew Virginia and sought her out for her expertise, knowledge, and discerning eye. She formed lasting friendships and connections with fellow collectors, dealers, and antique enthusiasts across the country and in Norway.
In her later years, Virginia and Mert continued their antique business through eBay. They spent countless hours finding, researching, buying, and selling unique pieces. Although the work could be demanding and time-consuming, Virginia loved it. Being an antique dealer was far more than a business to her; it was a lifelong passion and a source of knowledge, adventure, and friendship.
Virginia was also an accomplished professional truck driver. She drove tractor-trailer for Schanno and Transport America for 17 years, a career of which she was especially proud. During those 17 years, she had no accidents—an accomplishment that reflected her independence, determination, and pride in doing her work well.
Virginia lived a life filled with interests and passions that were distinctly her own—from horses and dogs to her proud Norwegian heritage, her many journeys to Norway, her lifelong career as an antique dealer, Norwegian antiques and jewelry, and eighteen-wheelers. She was knowledgeable, hardworking, independent, and deeply devoted to the people, animals, and pursuits she loved.
She is survived by her children, Bradford Irwin Hamilton, Edward Eric Philpot, Devee Joy McNally, Karen Kay Philpot, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by parents, Dr. Irwin and Isadore (Barber) Krohn, brother, Dr. John Krohn, partner of 40 years, Merlin “Mert” McWilliams, daughters, Amy Bing and Victoria Gormley, and her beloved horse of 33 years, Rocket.
Virginia will be remembered with love by her family, friends, and the many people whose lives she touched. She was a proud 100% Norwegian, a devoted animal lover, a respected antique dealer, and a woman of remarkable independence and determination. Her love of animals, passion for antiques, deep appreciation for Norwegian history and treasures, and the many friendships she formed in Norway and throughout her life will remain a lasting part of her legacy.
A funeral service for Virginia will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the Peace Lutheran Church in Pigeon Falls, WI. Visitation will held one hour prior to service time. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Black River Falls, WI.
Schiefelbein Funeral Home in Osseo, WI, is assisting the family with arrangements.