Judy Loeffen

The memorial service celebrating the life of Judy Loeffen of Wadena and formerly of Sebeka, will be held at 2:00p.m on Monday, December 2, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Nate Loer presiding. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday, from 12:30p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be held in the spring of 2025, in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN. Judy's memorial service may be viewed by going to Immanuel Lutheran's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/immanuelwadena or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlHtdFXv0Q Just days before her 80th birthday, Judy unexpectedly passed away with family at her side on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at the St Cloud Hospital. Judith “Judy” Arlene Hietala was born to William and Ida (Salo) Hietala on November 30, 1944, at Wesley Hospital in Wadena, MN. She attended country school for three years before going to New York Mills Public School and continued her education at the Area Vocational Technical Institute, now MState, in Wadena. On May 31, 1975, Judy married the love of her life, John “Jack” Leonard Loeffen, Jr and they made their home in Wadena. They later moved to Otter Tail Lake, then relocated to a hobby farm near Sebeka, and most recently moved back to Wadena. Judy worked as an administrative assistant for the Midwestern Gas Company and later at Lund Boats in New York Mills. She loved her cats, reading, and enjoyed gardening and her flowers. All the homes where she lived were beautifully decorated inside, and throughout her gardens. A terrific baker, she was often looking up new recipes to try. Her Finnish heritage brought her great pride. She was a member of the Wadena VFW Auxiliary, a Bible study, and a Christian women’s group. Judy will be remembered as a spunky, sassy, well-dressed woman who loved the Lord. She was also a stubborn, yet strong, woman who spoke her mind. Always ready to help others, Judy had a generous heart with her family and friends. She was a caring and supportive wife, mother and grandmother, who absolutely loved her husband Jack and daughters, Brenda, Cindy and Sue. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were so adored by her that even at the age of nearly 80, she got down on the floor to play with them. Judy’s loving family will remember her beautiful smile and miss her deeply even though they know she is now in the loving arms of her Lord. Preceding Judy in death were her parents William and Ida; siblings: Virgil and Donald Hietala, Betty Kiminki and Bernice Dornbusch; grandson Toby Windels; and son-in-law Randy Windels. Forever loved, Judy is survived by her husband, Jack of Wadena; daughters: Brenda Windels of Wadena, Cindy (Curt) Kuehl of Pierre, SD and Sue (Pat) Malone of Saratoga, WY; five grandchildren: Hailey, Curry, Macey, Ryan and Cody; five great-grandchildren: Warren, Kamryn, Kaizer, Huxley and Walker; sisters-in-law: Betty Hietala, Bette Lou Hietala, Ann Marie Tilleskjor, Peggy Anderson, Clara Reipe, Carol Ann Kleutner, Nancy Hanson, Barbara Henner, and Jeanette Jenkins; brother-in-law Tom Loeffen; along with extended family, friends, neighbors, and former coworkers. Honorary urn bearers will be all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Judy Loeffen

November 30, 1944 - November 24, 2024