The former Virginia Beckner was born March 20, 1929, in Oelwein, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Viola (Murphy) Beckner. Virginia was baptized March 26, 1929 and confirmed April 18, 1943, both rites performed at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. She attended schools in Oelwein and Hazelton, Iowa receiving her diploma (G.E.D.) from Sumner High School.
Virginia and Wayne L. Hughson were married September 9, 1946, at First Lutheran Church in Iowa City. They were parents of Nicola Diane, Alice Lianne, and Daniel Wayne Hughson. The couple farmed many years in the Hawkeye and Sumner area. Virginia was employed for ten and a half years at the former Sportsmen’s Supper Club and also made and sold crafts for several years at Amana, Iowa.
Virginia was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye since 1951 where she served on the church council for five years and was a member of Martha Circle. She was a member of the Hawkeye Garden Club since 1974 and an American Legion Auxiliary member.
On June 27, 1998, Virginia and James L. Burke were married at Trinity Lutheran Church by Rev. Troy Pflibsen and Father John Purtell.
Virginia’s death occurred at her rural Sumner home on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from mesothelioma. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, James, which included trips to Europe, Hawaii, Ireland, Canada, and many U.S. states. She also enjoyed a lifetime of gardening, reading, family events, crocheting, and genealogy research.
She is survived by her husband, James L. Burke of Hawkeye; two daughters, Nicola D. England of Mesquite, Texas and A. Lianne (Jerry) Briskey of Coralville; one son, Daniel (Marcia) Hughson of Sumner; grandchildren Rodney (Tina) Brown and children, Mitchell, Morgan and Jake of Ettrick, WI, Robby (Erica) Brown and children, Treyton, Destiny, and Bailey of Oskaloosa, Alicia (Brett) Murray of Portland, OR, Lindsey Briskey of Coralville, Danielle Hughson of Portland, OR, Dustin Hughson, Grundy Center, and daughter, Alaina Hughson, Crossroads, TX, and his fiance, Dana Huinker, Grundy Center, and Dillon Hughson of Maynard; one sister, Dorothy (John) Kunkle of St. Louis, MO; one brother, D.R. (Joyce) Beckner of Independence; and her children by marriage, James L. Burke III and children, Jaime and Katrin, Jeffery (Casey) Burke and children, Jack and Shawna and son, Nolan, and John (Karen) Burke and children, Amanda and Anna.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wayne L. Hughson on August 29, 1988; her parents; one brother, Robert Beckner; and two sisters-in-law, Pearl Beckner and Leona Beckner.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye with Rev. William Horn officiating. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 10, 2010, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye and for one hour preceding services at the church on Tuesday. Committal services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens at Hazelton.
