Vicki Lynn Wenzel, 75, passed away on June 28, 2018, with her son, Todd, at her bedside.

She was born Feb. 19, 1943, in Sioux City, Iowa. She married David Wenzel in 1962 and they operated an automotive parts business in Austin, Minnesota, for many years. Following their divorce, she began studies to become a medical administrative assistant. The Mayo Clinic employed her for 22 years.

She loved being a mom and a grandma and told anyone who would listen all about her grandchildren, who delighted her to no end. Vicki loved pizza night, Caribou Coffee, the Farmer’s Market, playing golf, gardening, flowers, Christmas, making lefse, and Panera Bread restaurant, to name a few things. Not a day went by without ice cream in the fridge. She loved to travel with her daughter and many trips involved singing and dancing in their car seats while they laughed and talked incessantly. She loved music and attended many concerts with her friends and family. The highlight of her year was going up north with a group of near and dear girlfriends every summer. If only those cabin walls could talk.

Over the course of a decade, Vicki raised thousands of dollars and walked hundreds of miles in several 3-day 50-mile walks to support multiple sclerosis and finding a cure. Her fierce independence and selfless heart touched the lives and hearts of many.

She is survived by her daughter, Kari Wenzel (Thomas Cantrell); son, Todd (Kelley) Wenzel; brother, Jeff (Lenore) Watkins; and two grandchildren, Owen Wenzel and Chloe Wenzel. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phyllis and Duane Watkins; and her sister, Stephanie Blake.

A memorial celebration service, filled with good food, photographs of her life, and music she loved, will be planned for the fall of 2018 in Rochester, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.