Virginia E. Hughes

Virginia E. Hughes, 79, of Eau Claire, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Bowerman Funeral Home, Eau Claire, where the funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1. Burial will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles. Messages may be shared online at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Virginia was born Sept. 5, 1941, in Kipling, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Henry and Wilhelmina (Bauer) Herter. On June 25, 1960, she married the love of her life, Kenneth L. Hughes, and they lived life to the fullest for their 56 years together. He preceded her in death on July 20, 2016.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Ronald) Thran of Dowagiac; two grandchildren: Heidi Thran and Ginny Lyn Hughes; a great-grandchild (who was a bright spot in her life), Hayden Durham; two brothers: Donnie Herter and Leslie (Joellen) Herter of Dowagiac; sisters: Phyllis (William) Reitz and Hedy (Gene) Taube of Tennessee, and Linda Burgette of Kalamazoo.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth H. Hughes; brothers: Victor, Joseph, and Ernie Herter; and sisters: Violet Frese and Nellie Price.

Virginia was a forever-loving mother and friend.