Independence Day celebrations and firework displays seemed to emphasize Vi’s own
independence beginning in her early childhood and continuing throughout her life. Her son,
Joseph M. McCorkle, youngest sister, Doris Kosub, and brother-in-law, Jim Kosub, were at her
bedside at the Eagle’s Trace Senior Living Community in Houston. Visitation will be from 10:00
to 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 10, at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery followed
by a graveside service.
Born in the early morning hours of December 30, 1930, Vi was the second of three daughters
born to Edmund (Ed) Jaeschke and Isabell Gertrude Siebenhor Jaeschke. At the time of her
birth, she and her family were living on the Dr. Ed Goethe farm located south of San Antonio at
the confluence of the San Antonio and Medina Rivers. When Vi was almost 4 years old, her
parents bought a farm on Valley Road and had a house built. They moved in their new home in
October 1934.
When looking at her baby pictures, Vi would bluntly and gleefully describe herself as a “chubby
baby,” weighing in at 8 1/2 pounds and the “largest” of her two sisters. However, though she
seemed to think she was a “chubby baby,” she was slender and elegant throughout her
lifetime. Vi begin her early childhood by collecting pets. She began with Snowball, an all-white
long-haired Persian cat with a black spot on top of his head between his ears. Vi recalled her
mother telling the Snowball story of Vi getting a pair of scissors one day and cutting the fur off
his tail. Next came a pet rooster and dog. Vi “liked butter and would open the ice box door to
scoop up butter from the butter dish with her hand.” She would then run off with the butter
oozing out between her fingers and eating it while her mother chased her trying to catch her.
Some future cousin may wonder if Vi’s mother ever caught her. Unfortunately, “The Butter
Chase” of the Jaeschke family will remain left to future generations to find an answer to the
question of whether Vi was or was not caught.
Vi claimed she and her oldest sister “never really got along, explaining her sister, Laura, wanted
a baby brother and was expecting her to be a boy but was quite disappointed when I was a
baby sister.” Vi’s beloved paternal grandmother, Sophia Jaeschke, regularly visited and would
stay for three months each time. When Vi’s mother would drive her older sister to school each
day, the inquisitive middle child and her Grandmother Jaeschke would ride along because on
the way back home, they would stop at Sorolla’s Store in Buena Vista so her grandmother could
buy bananas for Vi, who loved bananas throughout her lifetime. She added, “I think I was her
favorite grandchild. She wasn’t as fond of Laura because Laura would run over her toes with her
tricycle.”
Farm chores filled many hours for Vi. She was responsible for shucking and shelling corn for the
chickens, gathering eggs, carrying in wood and kindling for the stove. Sometimes she had to go
to the field with her Dad or Mom to drive in the cows to be milked. In the summer she helped
her father in the cornfield by sewing up corn sacks to be used when he was getting the corn
ready to take to market. Later in the summer when the corn season was over, her Dad picked
the nubbins for the chickens, pigs and mules. Vi would drive the wagon while her Dad and his
workers would strip the corn stalks for any ears of corn that may have been overlooked.
Vi began her educational journey at Buena Vista School from the 1st to 9th grades. While at
Buena Vista she was director of the Rhythm Band and later director of the Choral Singers. She
participated in the Girl Scouts and the 4-H Club. During this time, she was selected by the Farm
and Ranch Committee of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce to receive 26 baby turkeys to
raise, take care of them, and keep a record of how much was spent on feed and medicine. Feed
expenses came to $14.40. When the turkeys were large enough to sell, she earned $91.40. She
kept one turkey for the family’s Christmas dinner in 1945. After completing Buena Vista, she
attended Harlandale High School, completing the 10th through the 12th grades. She was voted
into the Gold Battalion, the school’s drill team/pep squad. She became Second Lieutenant in
the Gold Battalion and was one of two Historians. Vi also participated in the Photo Club, elected
Vice President of the Spanish Club and named to the National Honor Society.
College was her next step after graduating high school. She enrolled in Our Lady of the Lake
College. Vi was “always bothered by their strict rules and curfews” and begged to quit college
on a regular basis. Her mother always said no and decided to move Vi home during her senior
year so she could “have more freedom.” Needing transportation from the farm to college, her
mother bought Vi her first car - a 1952 yellow Chevrolet black hardtop at $2,500.00. Her
mother gave her $500 for a graduation present (which went towards a car payment) and Vi
paid her mom back the remaining $2,000.00. Vi graduated in May 1952 with a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration. Vi was hired at Headquarters Fourth Army, Fort Sam
Houston to work in Civilian Personnel, the Chemical Division, Military Personnel and MOW
(Morale, Discipline and Welfare) Division. After 2-1/2 year working in Civil Service she moved
on to the private sector. Vi was hired at Lone Star Brewing Company and learned to “like beer;
experiencing a coffee break in morning, a beer break in the afternoon and Happy Hour from
5pm-6pm each work day.” After three years, Vi decided to “go foreign” and applied for a job
with Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). She was accepted immediately and after passing
her physical and taking “umpteen” shots, she was ready to go to Saudi Arabia. It was there that
she met her future husband, Joe McCorkle. He arrived in Saudi Arabia in February and was sent
to Abqaiq. Vi arrived in Saudi Arabia less than three weeks later and stayed in Dhahran. She
initially worked in the Steno Pool and then transferred to the Accounting Department. They
dated for several years and on August 4, 1961, they were married in Kusnacht, Switzerland, and
had a three-week honeymoon in Europe. Their only child, Joseph, arrived in the following year
in May 1962. “Little Joe” grew up in Saudi Arabia, and when he was ready for high school, “Big
Joe” retired from Aramco in 1977 and the family was relocated to Houston, Texas. After several
years of being a housewife and not working outside the home, she started a part-time job with
Quilts, Inc. It soon became a full-time job. She worked there with her sister, Doris, for 15 years.
Vi, Joe and their son “Little Joe” returned to Europe in 2011 to celebrate their 50th Wedding
Anniversary. They went to City Hall in Kusnacht. The Records Administrator found their
marriage license in the record book, “it was an exciting time for all three.”
In 2004 Vi and Joe moved to Heritage Grand in Katy, TX and made new friends and regularly
participated in social events.
Her anticipated arrival of her only grandchild, Kenlee, became a reality in March 2013. Vi
adored Kenlee and lovingly referred to her as “Peanut.” Vi took great pleasure in telling stories
about Kenlee’s great adventures and how “smart that little girl is.”
Vi looked forward to the annual family get-togethers for Easter, Thanksgiving, Annual Christmas
Cookie Baking Day, and Christmas at her nephews’ home, Kenneth Kosub and his wife, Tammy,
in Katy. Vi’s famous Zucchini Bread, Lemon Squares, and Corn Pudding will be greatly missed by
her nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Vi had a lifetime passion for pursuing her goals. She was driven to achieve her dreams, with the
No. 1 Dream of traveling the world. And, she did…some 96 countries during her lifetime. Vi’s
granddaughter can proudly tell the story of her adventurous grandmother in the years to come.
Her grandmother, a trailblazer during her time – graduating from college when only men went
to college and then moving to the other side of the world - by herself and getting married in
another country. Vi opened herself up to welcome life into her world.
Survivors include her son, Joseph M. McCorkle of Katy, Texas and one grandchild, Kenlee
McCorkle of Richmond, Texas. She also leaves behind her sister, Doris Kosub of Montgomery,
TX and her husband, Jim Kosub. In addition, she leaves behind numerous nephews and nieces
who adored her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph E. McCorkle of Houston,
TX, her parents, Edmund Jaeschke and Isabell Gertrude Siebenhor Jaeschke of San Antonio, TX
and her oldest sister, Laura Isabel Jaeschke Donathen of San Antonio, Texas.
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