Burke, Virginia A.

Virginia A. Burke

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, with both rites performed at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. She attended schools in Oelwein and Hazleton, Iowa, receiving her diploma (GED) from Sumner High School.

Virginia and Wayne L. Hughson were married Sept. 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 10 1/2 years at the former Sportsmen's Supper Club and also made and sold crafts for several years in Amana.

           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 the 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, Wis., Robby (Erica) Brown and children, Treyton, Destiny and Bailey of Oskaloosa, Alicia (Brett) Murray of Portland, Ore., Lindsey Briskey of Coralville, Danielle Hughson of Portland, Ore., Dustin Hughson of Grundy Center and his daughter, Alaina Hughson of Crossroads, Texas, and his fiancee, Dana Huinker of 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 Aug. 29, 1988; her parents; one brother, Robert Beckner; and two sisters-in-law, Pearl Beckner and Leona Beckner.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye with the Rev. William Horn officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday 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 p.m. Tuesday at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Hazleton.

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