Individual Details
Virginia Rose Weitzel
(May 19, 1921 - August 31, 1998)
NOT JUST A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN, BUT A GIFT OF LOVE
From their home William and Virginia Clemens were able to see the construction of the Formal Garden, the first garden in what was to become Clemens Gardens. When an adjacent piece of property became available, the Clemens purchased it and donated it to the City of St. Cloud. After donating the property, the Clemens donated the funding to create what is now the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden. From this initial involvement, the Clemens family made the remarkable decision to fund the entire garden project.
Mrs. Clemens suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and became housebound, but her husband continued to donate and grow her garden, as she watched from her bedroom window. Unable to travel because of the disease, Mrs. Clemens was able to enjoy the beauty of the gardens from her window. While most men give their wives flowers, Mr. Clemens gave his wife, and our community, the gift of this glorious public garden. Created in the tradition of the great gardens of Europe, Clemens Gardens is a spectacular display of colors, scents, sights, and sounds.
A bronze rose memorial honoring her is located on the East Side of the garden. There are 1,100 roses including floribundas, tree roses, hybrid teas, shrub roses, and grandifloras.
http://ci.stcloud.mn.us/Web/departments/Parks/Gardens/mgcg%20home%20page.htm
Virginia Clemens, 77, St. Cloud area benefactor
Allie Shah, Star Tribune
Last update: September 02, 1998 11:00 PM
Services were held Wednesday for Virginia Clemens, 77, the wife of a St. Cloud businessman and the woman for whom one of Minnesota's largest public rose gardens is named. The Virginia Clemens Rose Garden is situated near the Mississippi River across from the Clemenses' home in St. Cloud and includes more than 1,000 rosebushes of many varieties. Virginia Clemens' husband is William Clemens, the founder of Banker's Systems Inc. in St. Cloud.
She died Monday at St. Benedict's Center, a nursing home in St. Cloud. The cause of death was not available, but relatives said she had suffered from multiple sclerosis for more than 40 years. The Clemenses were benefactors in the St. Cloud and Fargo areas. In all they contributed millions of dollars to St. John's University, the College of St. Benedict, and the Dioceses of St. Cloud and Fargo.
"They both came from humble Midwest origins and they worked very hard," said her daughter, Mary Sue Potter of St. Cloud. "These gifts were a way to thank the community and the church for all they'd been blessed with."
Virginia Clemens was born in Melrose, Minn., and spent much of her life in St. Cloud. She worked in a department store and attended what is now St. Cloud State University. She then moved to Washington, D.C., to take a job with the FBI.
Virginia married William Clemens, and they returned to St. Cloud in 1951. While her husband was founding the multimillion-dollar Banker's Systems, Virginia stayed at home with her four children. She had developed multiple sclerosis, which eventually left her bedridden. Her appreciation for all things beautiful inspired William Clemens to establish the rose garden 10 years ago. Potter said her mother enjoyed spending time in the garden, talking to employees and watching families conduct weddings, reunions and other get-togethers in the park.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Clemens is survived by two other daughters, Barbara Watkins of Las Vegas and Robin Clemens of Newport, Wash.; a son, John P. of St. Cloud; three brothers, Robert and John Weitzel, both of St. Cloud, and William Weitzel of Wahpeton, N.D., and two grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to the St. Therese Grief Center, St. Cloud Hospital Chapel, St. Benedict's Center or the Clemens Gardens Fund through the Central Minnesota Foundation.
From their home William and Virginia Clemens were able to see the construction of the Formal Garden, the first garden in what was to become Clemens Gardens. When an adjacent piece of property became available, the Clemens purchased it and donated it to the City of St. Cloud. After donating the property, the Clemens donated the funding to create what is now the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden. From this initial involvement, the Clemens family made the remarkable decision to fund the entire garden project.
Mrs. Clemens suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and became housebound, but her husband continued to donate and grow her garden, as she watched from her bedroom window. Unable to travel because of the disease, Mrs. Clemens was able to enjoy the beauty of the gardens from her window. While most men give their wives flowers, Mr. Clemens gave his wife, and our community, the gift of this glorious public garden. Created in the tradition of the great gardens of Europe, Clemens Gardens is a spectacular display of colors, scents, sights, and sounds.
A bronze rose memorial honoring her is located on the East Side of the garden. There are 1,100 roses including floribundas, tree roses, hybrid teas, shrub roses, and grandifloras.
http://ci.stcloud.mn.us/Web/departments/Parks/Gardens/mgcg%20home%20page.htm
Virginia Clemens, 77, St. Cloud area benefactor
Allie Shah, Star Tribune
Last update: September 02, 1998 11:00 PM
Services were held Wednesday for Virginia Clemens, 77, the wife of a St. Cloud businessman and the woman for whom one of Minnesota's largest public rose gardens is named. The Virginia Clemens Rose Garden is situated near the Mississippi River across from the Clemenses' home in St. Cloud and includes more than 1,000 rosebushes of many varieties. Virginia Clemens' husband is William Clemens, the founder of Banker's Systems Inc. in St. Cloud.
She died Monday at St. Benedict's Center, a nursing home in St. Cloud. The cause of death was not available, but relatives said she had suffered from multiple sclerosis for more than 40 years. The Clemenses were benefactors in the St. Cloud and Fargo areas. In all they contributed millions of dollars to St. John's University, the College of St. Benedict, and the Dioceses of St. Cloud and Fargo.
"They both came from humble Midwest origins and they worked very hard," said her daughter, Mary Sue Potter of St. Cloud. "These gifts were a way to thank the community and the church for all they'd been blessed with."
Virginia Clemens was born in Melrose, Minn., and spent much of her life in St. Cloud. She worked in a department store and attended what is now St. Cloud State University. She then moved to Washington, D.C., to take a job with the FBI.
Virginia married William Clemens, and they returned to St. Cloud in 1951. While her husband was founding the multimillion-dollar Banker's Systems, Virginia stayed at home with her four children. She had developed multiple sclerosis, which eventually left her bedridden. Her appreciation for all things beautiful inspired William Clemens to establish the rose garden 10 years ago. Potter said her mother enjoyed spending time in the garden, talking to employees and watching families conduct weddings, reunions and other get-togethers in the park.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Clemens is survived by two other daughters, Barbara Watkins of Las Vegas and Robin Clemens of Newport, Wash.; a son, John P. of St. Cloud; three brothers, Robert and John Weitzel, both of St. Cloud, and William Weitzel of Wahpeton, N.D., and two grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to the St. Therese Grief Center, St. Cloud Hospital Chapel, St. Benedict's Center or the Clemens Gardens Fund through the Central Minnesota Foundation.
Events
| Birth | May 19, 1921 | Melrose, MN | |||
| Marriage | May 29, 1942 | Quantico, VA - William Edward Clemens | |||
| Death | August 31, 1998 | 56304 St. Cloud, Stearns Co., MN |
Families
| Spouse | William Edward Clemens |
| Child | Barbara Clemens |
| Child | Mary Sue Clemens |
| Child | Robin Clemens |
| Child | John P. Clemens |
| Father | Robert Weitzel (1893 - 1955) |
| Mother | Mathilda Agnes Buttweiler (1893 - 1980) |
| Sibling | Anna May Weitzel |
| Sibling | Mary Weitzel (1919 - ) |
| Sibling | Robert Weitzel |
| Sibling | William Weitzel |
| Sibling | John Weitzel |