Virginia Kay Wessels

Virginia Kay Wessels, 71, of Hardwick, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2021, with loved ones by her side.

Ginny was born on August 24, 1950, in Luverne, Minnesota to Lester and Ann (Debates) Heckt. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1968 and went on to a career in banking for 41 years at Hardwick State Bank. She would often talk about the many friends she made working in one place all those years.

In 1970, she married Douglas Wessels and they raised their two daughters, Amy and Kristina, in the small town of Hardwick. Ginny loved spending time family and friends, enjoying countless games of pinochle, Yahtzee, bingo, and Uno throughout the years. Her grandkids were often the recipients of her pinochle winnings with baggies of coins passing into their hands. One of her favorite phrases was “I have no naughty grandchildren!”

Ginny was an active member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, and her faith was an essential aspect of her life. She taught her daughters and grandchildren the importance of truly getting to know people. Ginny always took the time to learn people’s names and to ask about their interests and their families.

Ginny is lovingly remembered by her husband Doug Wessels, of Hardwick; her daughter, Amy (Gary) Ptak of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren, Ryan, Justin, and Keira; her sister, Dianne (Steve) Carlson of Luverne; and her in-laws, Norman Wessels, Enore Boelman, Gertrude Wessels, Donald Schouwenberg, Lowell Wessels, Iva (Edwin) Elbers, Harold Wessels, Theresa Wessels, David (Beverly) Wessels, Vonnie Heckt; and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Ann Heckt; her beloved daughter, Kristina Martinez; her brothers, Donald and David Heckt; her sister, Mary Maroon; brothers-in-law, David Maroon, Stanley Wessels, Darrel Wessels, and Edwin Boelman; sisters-in-law, Sharon Wessels, Jolene Wessels, Phyllis Schouwenberg, and Joyce Wessels; and other family and friends.

Visitation will be from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 21, with a prayer service to follow at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Luverne.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 22nd at St. Catherine Catholic Church, officiated by Monsignor Gerald Kosse.   Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Sioux Falls Ronald McDonald House or the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.

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