Virginia Therese Elke

Virginia Therese Elke, age 85, of Hutchinson, formerly of Dassel, died Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the Prairie Senior Cottages in Hutchinson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin with Fr. Mike Doyle officiating the Mass of Christian Burial. The interment will be held at the St. John’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Darwin following the Mass of Christian Burial. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday afternoon at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin. The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is in charge of the Mass of Christian Burial arrangements. Virginia Therese (Sheehan) Elke, the daughter of Delmer and Muriel (Thompson) Sheehan was born on September 17, 1939, in Harmony, Minnesota. She grew up and attended Guardian Angels Catholic School and grew up in rural Chaska. Virginia was baptized and received first communion at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church and was a faithful member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin. Virginia was united in marriage to James William Elke on June 27, 1958. Together they made their home in Minneapolis and St. Paul before moving to Carver, Minnesota in 1966. They moved to Apple Valley and in 1975, they made the decision to relocate to Dassel, Minnesota where she has resided until recently when she moved to Hutchinson. Virginia was deeply religious and held a deep faith in her prayers for her family and loved ones. She was fond of spending time in her garden taking care of her flowers and vegetables along with doing lawn care. She loved to attend garage sales and auctions, was an avid reader and an extremely good cook. She spent time with her family every chance she could get, whether it was a big holiday gathering or simply helping her children or grandchildren with housework or yardwork and visiting over coffee. She will be missed deeply by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and siblings. She is survived by her children, Mitch (Diane) Elke of Dassel, Wes Elke of Dassel, Tess Elke of Hutchinson, Kim Jack of Cokato, Tyler Elke of Reno, Nevada, and Tricia (Kelly) Hedtke of Litchfield, 23 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren, her daughter in law, Kathy (Ryan) Elke of Little Falls, siblings, Jean Rasmussen of Maplewood, Nick Sheehan of Washington; Pat Sheehan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jay (Donna) Sheehan of Sandstone, Sean (Ann) Sheehan of Spooner, Wisconsin, and Kelly (Helen) Sheehan of Stanchfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Elke, children, Timothy and Allan Elke, siblings, Jim Sheehan, Dale Sheehan, Jackie Cermak, Roy Sheehan, Dennis Sheehan, Rose Mary Elke, and Bonnie Amundson.

Virginia Therese Elke

September 17, 1939 - October 1, 2024