Virginia M. Esse - Austin

AUSTIN — Virginia M. Esse, 82, of Austin, died Tuesday, June 22, at the Austin Medical Center.

Virginia Maxine Esse was born Nov. 22, 1927, at 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; and 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, Winona, Julie and Ralph "Chip" Frank, Grapevine, Texas; daughter-in-law, Ann Esse, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; sisters-in-law: Gertrude Espe, Hayfield, Charlene Esse, Bundaberg, Australia; and 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 p.m. 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.