Veretta Glee (Mielke) Jungwirth

Veretta Glee (Mielke) Jungwirth, 85, of Providence, RI and formerly of Highmore, SD, passed away Thursday, August 13, 2020, at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, surrounded by her loving family.

Her funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 27, 2020, at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 301 South 2nd Street, in Ferney, SD, with Pastor Lloyd Redhage officiating.  A luncheon and time of fellowship will immediately follow the service at the church fellowship hall.  Burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign Veretta’s online guestbook and view her service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Veretta Glee Mielke was born in Ferney, SD on March 20, 1935, to Arthur and Virginia (Harry) Mielke of Aberdeen, South Dakota.  

Veretta met her husband of 61 years, Charles Jungwirth, while attending Northern State Teacher’s College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Veretta was a 4th grade teacher at Highmore School for nearly 10 years. Veretta received her Master’s Degree in Education from Rhode Island College. A teacher and principal in the Providence Public School system for 30 years, Veretta was a powerful inspiration to her countless students and faculty. Her accomplishments as principal of Kennedy Elementary and Fox Point Elementary include hosting Second Lady Joan Mondale, the flight crew of the space shuttle Discovery, and former Providence mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr. among many others.

Veretta was a congregant of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Providence for more than 50 years, and served as a church deacon.

In retirement, Veretta enjoyed painting, candle-making, and gardening, as well as spoiling her grandchildren.

Veretta is survived by one daughter, Debra (Jungwirth) Miller of East Providence; two grandchildren, Gregory E. Miller and Ethan A. Miller of East Providence; two siblings, Arthur Mielke of Fargo, North Dakota, and Renatta Gjertsen of Chicago, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in January of 2017; her parents; and her sister, Marjorie Burdette.

In lieu of flowers, Veretta’s family requests donations to be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of 445 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI  02907.

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