Virginia May Stehlik

Virginia May Stehlik, 89 of Jackson, Minnesota, passed away at her residence, on Sunday, February 28, 2021. A private family funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Jackson with Pastor Matthew Garavalia officiating. Burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery immediately following the service.

The service will be live streamed on the Osterberg Funeral Home Facebook page, for individuals to participate in the service online.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for memorials to be given to the Our Savior Lutheran Church in honor of Virginia.

Virginia May Stehlik, daughter of Clayton and Dagney (Haakenson) Schultz, was born on Monday, May 11, 1931, in Montevideo, Minnesota.  She attended and graduated from Montevideo High School.  Upon graduating, Virginia attended the State Normal and Industrial College in Ellendale, North Dakota, earning her teaching degree. There, she met the love of her life, Stan Stehlik.  They were united in marriage on December 21, 1951, at her family home in Montevideo, Minnesota.  In 1952, Virginia and Stan moved to Faulkton, South Dakota where they were both high school teachers.  In 1955, they relocated to Jackson, Minnesota where Virginia taught high school English for several years.  She and Stan were then blessed with 4 children and Virginia left her teaching career to stay home and raise her young family. 

Virginia returned to fulltime work in the early 1970’s as bookkeeper at Jackson Feed for several years.  She and Stan then owned and operated the Sears Catalog Store for 8 years and when they sold the business Virginia then cared for her twin grandsons Nicholas and Nathan for a couple years.  She then worked at Dueber’s Department Store well into her late 60’s. 

Virginia was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson, where she was active on the Church Board, member of Church Circle, and taught Sunday School.  As health issues arose for both Stan and Virginia, they moved to an assisted living facility in Brandon, South Dakota for a short time in 2016.  Following Stan’s passing in early 2017, Virginia moved back to Jackson to be closer to her church family, special friends, and the Jackson Library she loved so much to visit.  On Sunday, February 28, 2021, Virginia was called home to her Lord and Savior at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 17 days.  

Virginia was a beautiful woman inside and out. She had a caring personality, that she shared not only with her family, but also with those that she knew.  Family, faith, and church were high priorities in Virginia’s life.  Her humor was contagious, and she could always make somebody smile or laugh.  When living on their small acreage near Alpha, MN in the 1970’s Virginia and Stan had a huge vegetable garden.   Every fall weekend became the family event of picking, canning, and freezing of all the produce.  Virginia was also an impeccable cook, baking everything from scratch.  She was famous for her breads, corn fritters, and caramel rolls to name a few. She was an avid sewer, sewing quilts for the family, making clothes for her daughters, clothes for their dolls, and creative and fun Halloween costumes.  When her 4 grandsons arrived, she continued these family traditions of making quilts for them, baking their favorite treats, making them cool Halloween costumes, and caring for them whenever needed.  Virginia also enjoyed playing Bridge and visiting the Jackson Library to find a new book to read.  Virginia was very passionate about her family and adored each and every moment she was able to spend with them, from summer camping trips, to teaching them how to cook and sew, and having a good debatable conversation.  Virginia has left behind a lifetime of memories for her family and friends to cherish.  

Virginia is survived by her children Jeff (Lynette) Stehlik of Luverne, MN, Joel (Mary) Stehlik of Parker, CO,  Lynelle (Rick) Nordquist of Oak Park Heights, MN,  and Kim (Dave) Deel of Brandon, SD; grandchildren:  Andy Deel of Brandon, SD,  Brady (Andrea) Deel and great-granddaughter Elowen of Madison, WI, Nicholas Stehlik (Tina) of Lisbon, ND,  Nathan Stehlik-Freeman (Cortney) of Bremerton, WA;  step grandchildren:  Jamie (Aron) Stencel and their children Audrey and Erica of Valrico, FL, Jason Berghorst  of Luverne, MN, Jessica (Jeff) Dansky and their children Olivia and Chase of Woodbury, MN, Ashley (Rob) Winter and son Adam, Bath, UK, Christopher Campbell, Edinburgh, UK; brothers:  L.E. “Bud” Schultz of Montevideo, MN,  and Donald (Marita) Schultz of Sheldon, IA.   

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Stan, her parents Clayton and Dagney, and sister-in-law Janet Schultz. 

Blessed be the memory of Virginia May Stehlik. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia May Stehlik, please visit our floral store.