The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame offers condolences and shares with the Kissell Family in mourning the passing of Virginia “Ginny” C. Kissell. She passed away on Oct. 29 in Springfield. She was 94.
Kissell was the widow of George Kissell, who worked for the St. Louis Cardinals as either a player, scout or coach since signing with the Redbirds in 1940. A Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2003, he passed away in October 2008.
Mrs. Kissell’s obituary is below. Note that the family is asking donations be made in her name to Cardinals Care, 700 Clark Street, St. Louis, Mo., 63102.
Virginia “Ginny” Caroline Kissell
Virginia (Ginny) Caroline Kissell was born Aug. 14, 1921, in Northern New York and died Oct. 29, 2015, in Springfield, Mo. Ginny was preceded in death by her parents Lena and Ernest Colligan; her three brothers Ervin, Eddy and Hugh; and by her beloved husband George. She is survived by her son Richard Kissell, M.D. and his wife Joann of Springfield, MO; her daughter Karolyn (Kay) Kidwell of St. Petersburg, FL; grandchildren Scott Kissell, Laura Kissell, Tommy Kidwell and Mike Kidwell; and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Ward Kissell and his wife Dorothy. Ginny had a long and remarkable life filled with love, family, career and friends.
She graduated from Plattsburgh State Teacher’s College and taught home economics in Upstate NY. On March 22, 1944, she married George Kissell while he was stationed in NYC with the US Navy. George resumed his baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals after the war and Ginny continued to teach near their home in Sackets Harbor, NY. In 1971 Ginny retired from teaching when George became a major league coach. Until George’s death in 2008 she was by his side to assist him as he travelled around the country teaching and coaching baseball with the Cardinals organization.
Virginia will be buried with George in the Veterans Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Cardinals Care at 700 Clark Street, St. Louis, MO 63102.