Virginia Mae Russell

Virginia Mae Russell, age 91, of Mankato and formerly of Albert Lea, died on Tuesday, April 27,2010 at Oaklawn Health Care Center.

Memorial service will be Sunday, May 2 at 1:30 pm at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato, MN. Her body was donated to the medical school at Mayo Health System.

Virginia, daughter of Rev. William and Emma Schendel, was born December 23, 1918 in Mankato, MN. She was a 1936 graduate of Olivia High School and a 1941 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Public Health Nursing. In 1943, she married Pat Russell, they began their life together on a farm near Lake Lillian before moving to Albert Lea in 1958 and Mankato in 2003.

Virginia worked in Rice and Freeborn Counties as a Public Health Nurse and was especially proud of helping the migrant people. She was active in the churches she attended in bible studies and women's groups. She was a member of Hosanna Lutheran church since moving to Mankato.

She is survived by two sons, Bill of Buffalo, NY, and Bob (Mary) of Saint Paul; three daughters, Sue (Jerry) Hauschildt of Baldwin, Wi, Bonnie (Doug) Bice of Apple Valley, and Pat (Denny) of Madelia; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold Schendel; one sister-in-law, Mary Russell of Olivia.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years.