Virginia Esse
Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 24, 2010
Virginia M. Esse, 82, of Austin died Tuesday, June 22, at the Austin Medical Center.
Virginia Maxine Esse was born Nov. 22, 1927, in Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Clayton and Beulah (Smalley) Jenkins. She graduated from Austin High School and was married to Laverne W. Esse on June 5, 1948, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church parsonage in Austin. Virginia returned to college and graduated from Winona State University. For many years, she taught in the language arts department of the Elkton and Southland Public Schools.
She was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and The Sons of Norway. She was an active supporter of Habitat for Humanity and a member of a book club. Virginia was an avid reader, enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and traveling. She had traveled throughout the United States as well as to Israel, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Australia.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Laverne; a son, Doug Esse; a sister, Marilyn Kramer; brothers-in-law, Dennis Kramer, John Esse, Harold Esse and George Espe.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Vicki and Sam Boysen of Winona, Minn., Julie and Ralph “Chip” Frank of Grapevine, Texas; daughter-in-law, Ann Esse of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; sisters-in-law, Gertrude Espe of Hayfield, Minn., Charlene Esse of Bundaberg, Australia; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ron Barnett officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and at the church for one hour before the service on Saturday. The family prefers memorials to St. Olaf Lutheran Church.
Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.