Virginia Nadine Lake

Virginia Nadine Lake, 87, a resident of Columbia since 1999, died Thursday, February 17, 2011, at Boone Hospital Center. Deanie, as we knew her, was born on July 3, 1923, to Chauncey Wilson Robinson and Bessie Gladys Collins Robinson in Kirksville, Mo. She graduated from Kirksville High School and attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. She met her future husband, Eugene E. Lake, who was studying at the Kirksville School of Osteopathy and Surgery and they were married on May 25, 1944, in Kirksville. After 59 years of marriage, Gene preceded her in death in 2003. Deanie and Gene moved to Kansas City after graduating from the School of Osteopathy for an internship. After the internship, they moved to Jefferson City where Gene practiced medicine with his father and was a founder of the then Still Hospital. Deanie and Gene built a cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks in 1959 on Indian Creek. The family spent countless weekends over the years enjoying the lake, a tradition that is carried on by parts of the family today. Deanie was a mother of four and spent her life raising her children. She was an outgoing positive person who was the life of the party. She had a contagious laugh, a great sense of humor and was a great story and joke teller. The family particularly enjoyed her salty joke routine. While living in Jefferson City, she enjoyed her weekly bridge games with the girls, something they pursued for 30 years. Survivors include her children, Becky MacLellan and her husband Jeff of Columbia, Cindy Taylor and her husband Dan of St. Louis, Sonny Lake of Columbia and Greg Lake and his wife Leanne of Columbia; 10 grandchildren, Jay and Melissa MacLellan, Carrie and Brian Murray, Reid and Bea Burkhardt, Katie and Scott Wolff, Libby Burkhardt, Sarah and Robby Brown, Ben Lake, Julie and Hank Pleiss, Tom and Marcia Lake, and Jessie Lake; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Eugene E. Lake; grandson, Grahame Lake; and great-granddaughter, Ava Brown. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 21, 2011, at Freeman Mortuary. A private graveside service will be held at the Kirksville Cemetery at a later date. The family wishes to thank the staff at Tiger Place for their care, support and friendship shown to Deanie each day. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to First Candle, in memory of Ava Brown; Phoenix House, in memory of Grahame Lake; Assistance League of Mid-Missouri; or an organization benefiting Macular Degeneration. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com