Prairie Days Flowers Help Memorialize Ginny Werkmeister

By Carrie Pitzer
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As Tilden celebrates its first Prairie Days without Ginny Werkmeister, the community clearly has not forgotten about the woman who dedicated countless hours to making sure the flowers throughout town were gorgeous.

In front of the American Legion stands a memorial dedicated to Werkmeister, who lost her battle with cancer last October. Joanne Rudnick, president of the women's auxiliary, said members all brought flowers and plants to honor their friend and longtime auxiliary member. 

"Ginny was more than an auxiliary member. She was a friend," Rudnick said. "Prairie Days been tough on everybody. She may be gone, but we all fight because of her. We fight and carry on for her."

Rudnick said the photo of Werkmeister is perfect because, "It's her smile. It looks like her because she always had a smile on her face."

Werkmeister, who had a greenhouse, started preparing for Prairie Days every winter, Rudnick said. The idea for the flowers that now line the streets of town actually came from Werkmeister more than two decades ago.

Her daughter, Sandy Werkmesiter of Loveland, Colo., said her mother was visiting her sister Anita Bailey in Edmonds, Wash., when she saw hanging baskets of flowers throughout town and immediately wanted that for her small community.

"My mom thought they were so beautiful, so when Prairie Days started (12 years ago), she thought that would be a good excuse to have the baskets," Sandy Werkmeister said. 

Rudnick said Ginny Werkmeister would grab "the mule and water the flowers at 5 or 6 in the morning every day." With Ginny's passing, her husband, Marvin, has helped with the flowers and greenhouse to keep the tradition going. Dave Ritterscher has taken over watering duties. 

The way the community has pitched in to keep the tradition going would make Ginny Werkmeister proud, her daughter said.

"Her greatest wish would be that lots of people in the town would what they can do for the town - hers was flowers - and everyone does that, then you have a great town," she said. "If she could say anything, I think that would be it. Give your gift to the town and make it great."