Florence, SC, September 1, 2025
News Summary
Victoria Veronica ‘Vickie’ Gimla, aged 83, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of generosity, community service, and creativity. Known for her dedication to veterans and significant volunteering efforts, Vickie contributed greatly to her community as well as her family. Her recognition as the Pee Dee Area Person of the Year highlights her impact. Friends and family are invited to honor her memory at a memorial service scheduled for September 6.
Florence, SC – Victoria Veronica “Vickie” Gimla Passes Away at 83, Leaving a Legacy of Service and Creativity
Victoria Veronica “Vickie” Gimla passed away on August 30, 2025, at the age of 83. A lifelong resident of Wisconsin and then South Carolina, Vickie was known for her unwavering generosity, her commitment to community service, and a remarkable creative talent.
Born on June 12, 1942, in Milwaukee, WI, Vickie was the daughter of the late Harry Kosmowski and Alice Rosak Kosmowski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert P. Gimla, along with her brothers Harry Kosmowski Jr. and Jerry Kosmowski, and her sister Rose Barutha.
Throughout her life, Vickie embraced motherhood and family, demonstrating deep care for her loved ones as a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was actively involved in her sons’ lives as a DEN Mother for their Cub Scouts and served as historian for the Widow and Widowers group.
Her contributions to veterans’ services were notably significant. Vickie served as the President of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she was honored with a plaque for her outstanding service from American Legion Post #1. Additionally, she was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and organized a Thanksgiving food drive for veterans in Florence.
In 2019, Vickie was recognized as the Pee Dee Area Person of the Year, awarded for her tireless dedication to both veterans and the wider community. She also committed 22 years of her life crocheting items for hospice and cancer patients at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Her efforts in volunteering were acknowledged last year when she logged 1,952 hours of volunteer work—the highest in her crafting group.
In the employment sector, Vickie was the Craft Department Manager at Walmart, earning multiple VPI Associate of the Month awards for her outstanding performance. Her creative talents spanned a wide range, including cake decorating, card making, woodworking, sewing, embroidery, crochet, knitting, and stamping.
Her family describes Vickie as having the largest and most caring heart, always giving selflessly to others throughout her life. She is survived by her sons, Bruce Sheaffer of Columbia, SC, and Dale Heiden of Florence, SC; and her daughter, June Sheaffer-Kelly of Florence, SC. Vickie also leaves behind her stepdaughters, Karla Kelly (Dennis), Marcia Labutski (Steve), and Paula Smith (Dean), as well as one grandchild, nine step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren, with another on the way.
Friends and family are invited to pay their respects on September 6, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service to be held in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 AM. The family encourages everyone to honor Vickie’s memory by serving their community and demonstrating kindness.
FAQ
- When did Victoria Veronica Gimla pass away? August 30, 2025.
- What was Vickie Gimla known for? Vickie was known for her generosity, community service, and creative talents.
- What organizations was Vickie involved with? She was involved with the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW, among others.
- How many volunteer hours did she log at McLeod Regional Medical Center? Vickie logged 1,952 hours of volunteer work.
- When and where will the memorial service be held? The memorial service will be held on September 6, 2025, at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home at 11:00 AM.
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Additional Resources
- Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home: Victoria Veronica Gimla Obituary
- Legacy.com: Victoria Gimla Obituary
- Dignity Memorial: Gilma Oppedahl Obituary
- Legacy.com: Frank Robinson Obituary
- Legacy.com: Teresa McDuffie Johnson Obituary
- Wikipedia: Community Service
- Google Search: Community Service
- Google Scholar: Community Service
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community Service
- Google News: Community Service
Author: STAFF HERE FLORENCE WRITER
FLORENCE STAFF WRITER The FLORENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREFlorence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florence, Florence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florence Festival of Lights, Pee Dee Pride, and agricultural expos at the Florence Center. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Florence Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Area Council of Governments, plus leading businesses in healthcare and retail that power the local economy such as McLeod Health and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
