Kay Marie Hoelscher passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 29, 2025.  Kay was born in Brainerd, MN on March 14, 1946 to George and Marion Cossette.  She graduated from Brainerd High School in 1964 and received her nursing degree from St. Luke’s in Duluth, MN in 1967 to begin a lifelong career in nursing.  She married Gordon Hoelscher on April 19,1969 and after living in San Antonio, TX and Washington DC while Gordy was in the Army, they moved to the Iron Range in 1972 where they lived in the cities of Mt. Iron, Upper Cedar Island Lake outside of Biwabik and finally in Virgina.

Kay was a passionate advocate for women’s health and spent most of her career as a nurse at Planned Parenthood.  She always expressed kindness without judgement to the young men and women that were in her care.  She made friends wherever she went and was very active in both her church and the communities where she lived.  She became an avid sports fan, reader and card player over the years and loved spending time in Florida with her sister and friends.  Kay leaves a strong legacy behind.

Kay is survived by her husband of 56 years, Gordy; one sister Marilyn (Jim) Kostohryz in Bradenton, FL; two children, Joe Hoelscher of Green Bay, WI and Milissa (Bob) Gallagher of Minneapolis, MN; granddaughters Jordan Hoelscher of Milwaukee, WI and Savana Hoelscher of Chicago, IL.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Hope Community Presbyterian Church in Virigina, MN on Friday, September 26th with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow the service. 

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Little Free Food Pantry of HCPC

Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Virginia.  To express condolences online please visit: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.