Sheila Joyce (Jacobson) Herke 1941-2020

HERKE, WATSON, JACOBSON

Posted By: Barry R Huntsinger (email)
Date: 9/23/2020 at 06:15:54

Former Administrative Assistant and Wedding Consultant, Sheila Joyce Herke of Mankato, age 78, died Sunday April 26th,2020 at Cottagewood in Mankato, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life was held on Sheila’s birthday, Friday, August 14, 2020 at Woodland Hills Funeral Home in Mankato.

Sheila was born August 14, 1941, to Joy S. and Florence E. (Watson) Jacobson at her grandparent’s home near Graettinger, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Depew, Iowa. She graduated in 1959 from Cylinder,Iowa High School and from Minnesota State University in 1981.

She met her husband, Larry W. Herke at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and they were married in Depew, Iowa on April 20, 1962 (the 52nd anniversary of her paternal grandparents and 27th anniversary of her godparents/Aunt and Uncle). They lived in Cedar Falls, Iowa Falls and Dubuque, Iowa before moving to Mankato in 1967.

She was a telephone operator, bookkeeper, and secretary in Iowa. At the YWCA in Mankato, she was Interim Executive Director, Assistant Director and Craft Instructor for 13 years. At Minnesota State University, she was the Credentials/Recruiting Coordinator in the Career Development Center for 16 years, retiring in 2001.

Fulfilling her dreams, she started her own business, “Satin and Pearls by Sheila” that she and Larry operated for 10 years. She was a consultant and decorator who created, many personally designed, as well as crafted and rented decoration and centerpieces for weddings, anniversaries and special events. Sheila enjoyed her business, doing crafts and needlework, roller skating, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, reading, playing bridge, shopping, collecting porcelain dolls, and spending time with friends and especially her family.

Sheila and Larry enjoyed traveling to different places but Phoenix, Arizona was a favorite place to winter. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church for 53 years and taught Sunday School, was in Circle, and served on several committees including secretary of the Board of Directors of the Church.

Sheila was proud of her international CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) rating achieved in 1987 and especially of her Associates of Science degree in 1980 and Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 from Minnesota State University in Clothing and Merchandising, Accounting and Business Administration. She was blessed with a wonderful family and many good friends.

Sheila is survived by her beloved husband, Larry W. Herke; one son, one daughter, four grandchildren and one great grandson and their families; Colonel Larry Joel and Debbie Herke of Sauk Centre, MN, Jonathan and Meagan Herke of Minneapolis, MN, Joseph Herke and Laura Karles of Mankato, MN, Justin and Anna Herke of Sauk Centre, MN, and April Barton, Raquelle and son Cade William Schommer of Scottsdale, AZ. Also surviving are two brothers and their wives; J. Ron and Roberta Jacobson of Rodman, IA and Bob and Cecelia Jacobson of Elgin, IL.; nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; honorary daughter and family; Shelly and Rick Rigdon, Keirsten and Bethany of Mankato, MN; Godchildren, Ron Chase, Ronna Jacobson Friedrich, Tacy Masters, and Art Sathoff. In-laws that survive her include; Mary Lane Cunningham of Pontiac, IL, George Tonderum of Emmetsburg, IA.

She was preceded in death by her great granddaughter June Ellyn, parents, Joy and Florence Jacobson; her father-in-law and mother-in-law; Ed and Ina Herke; and her grandparents: Sam and Gertrude Watson; and Joseph and Sophia Jacobson.

(Source: Woodland Hills Funeral Home, Mankato, Minnesota.)