Age 97, formerly of Inver Grove Heights,
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on March 25, 2026, while in the care of Beyond Hospice at The Pillars.
Virgil was born on April 23, 1928, in Holdingford, MN, to Henry and Eleanor Sandkamp. As a young child, his family moved to a farm in Grey Cloud Township, where he grew up alongside his 11 brothers and sisters. A graduate of Park High School, Virgil was captain of the football team and a standout track athlete. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Thomas and went on to attend medical school at St. Louis University where he met a beautiful nursing student named Joan who became his beloved wife on August 25, 1956.
Following their wedding, Virgil served as a Major and physician in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Minnesota for a 39-year career in family medicine in South St. Paul.
Together, Virgil and Joan raised 8 children over the course of their nearly 70 year marriage and spent 60 years at their small farm in Inver Grove Heights. Virgil shared his love of the outdoors with his children teaching them how to farm and garden while on his favorite John Deere tractor. He also passed on his love of horseback riding, skiing, fishing and cheering on the Johnnies and the Fighting Irish during college football season. He was an avid reader who loved to share his favorite books with family. A new book was always a perfect gift for him. He had an immense talent for fixing anything from a child’s toy to a broken arm. In retirement, he immersed himself in woodworking, crafting bamboo canes and unique styled end tables, and even making rosaries from hay baling twine. In later years, he and Joan cherished winters in Tucson, Arizona where they lived next door to their daughter Kathy and her family.
Deeply committed to his community, Virgil gave his time, energy and expertise to numerous causes important to him. He served as a team physician for South St. Paul High School, volunteered for years with Joan at the Wakota Life Care Center, gave his support and time to the clergy and the Church of St. Patrick, and cared for countless neighbors and families. He was proud to say that he delivered the first, hundredth and the thousandth baby at Divine Redeemer Hospital.
His long and well-lived life was a testament to his strength after surviving childhood tuberculosis. He loved his whole family and dedicated his life to them. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; his children, Terese (John) Shearer, Kathy (Greg) Harris, Anthony (Marlene), Andy (Victoria), Rose (Dave) Vierling, Amy (Jeff) Stariha and Joseph (Takako), his 23 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Elaine Simone, Mary Jane (Mike)Pisano, Joann Hinz and John (Pat).
He is welcomed to heavenly life by those loved ones preceded in death, his daughter Mary; his parents, Henry and Eleanor; his brothers, Leo, Werner Bernie and Alan Gene, and his sisters, Marcia Ell, Carol Devereaux, Helen Jansen and Norma Koenigs.
A visitation will be held at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave. E., Inver Grove Heights, from 6:00–8:00 PM on Tuesday, March 31st. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd St. E., Inver Grove Heights, on Wednesday, April 1st. Visitation begins at 10:00 AM, with Mass at 11:00 AM. Mass will also be livestreamed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a26031960642710. A luncheon at the church and burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery will follow.