Judith C. Hegstrom

Judith Charlotte (Shetler) Hegstrom, age 80, of Amnicon Lake, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 25, 2026.Born on January 13, 1946, Judith lived a life filled with love, laughter, family, and a genuine appreciation for the simple pleasures that made life beautiful.On September 11, 1965, Judith married Paul M. Hegstrom Sr. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, beginning a marriage and family life that would become the foundation of many cherished memories.

A former owner of Thompson-Hegstrom and Hegstrom Family Funeral Homes, Judith was a woman of kindness, compassion, and quiet strength. She had a generous heart, a supportive spirit, and a remarkable ability to make those around her feel loved. She was also a formidable Scrabble opponent, and anyone who sat across the board from her knew they had better bring their best vocabulary—or be prepared to look up any word they dared to play.Throughout her life, Judith was an avid gardener, a wonderful cook, and an enthusiastic reader who rarely passed up the opportunity to lose herself in a good book. She loved traveling, spending time with family, and finding joy in life’s everyday moments.

Judith was also deeply committed to her community. In the 1980s, she was proudly appointed by Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen to the Civil Service Committee, where she supported efforts focused on library growth and sustainability. She was formerly active in the Order of the Eastern Star and generously devoted her time and talents to organizing and facilitating numerous fundraisers for Pilgrim Lutheran Church and Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 1 of Superior.

In her later years, Judith found particular happiness in the peaceful beauty of life on Amnicon Lake. She delighted in watching the seasons change, welcoming the arrival of spring’s newest little creatures, and appreciating the ever-changing wonders of nature just outside her window. The lake was more than a place to live; it was a place of comfort, beauty, and countless treasured moments.

Above all, Judith loved her family. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories, traditions, laughter, and love that will continue through the generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Paul M. Hegstrom Sr.; her brothers, Jerry and Richard Shetler, brother-in-laws Jerry (Cindy) Hegstrom, and Blair Gades, and her much-loved dog, Belle.

Judith is survived by her three children: Paul M. (Stacy) Hegstrom Jr. of Esko, Minnesota; Patricia M. (Neal) Hegstrom-Olson of Superior, Wisconsin; and Pamela M. Hegstrom of Amnicon Lake, Wisconsin, her grandchildren: Paul M. (Katie) Hegstrom III of Cloquet, Minnesota; Hannah E. (Robert Rutka) of Duluth, Minnesota; Abigail H. (Jonathan) Fish of Esko, Minnesota; Eric R. Hegstrom of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Nathan L. Olson of Superior, Wisconsin, great-granddaughters, Dinah Lee and Talia Rose Rutka, brother James F. Shetler of Edina, Minnesota; Janet Shetler of Minneapolis, Minnesota, sister-in-law Maria Lopez-Shetler, brother-in-law John (Karen) Hegstrom of Woodbury, Minnesota, sister-in-law Lynn Gades of Mitchell, SD, several nieces and nephews and her current favorite four-legged companion, Lucy Love Hegstrom, who held a special place in her heart.

Judith will be remembered for her kindness, her unwavering love for her family, her generous spirit, and the quiet beauty she found in the world around her. Whether tending her gardens, preparing something wonderful in the kitchen, enjoying a good book, or winning another game of Scrabble, she had a way of making ordinary moments extraordinary.

Her life was a beautiful collection of love given, memories made, and moments cherished. Though she will be deeply missed, the love she planted in the hearts of those around her will continue to grow for generations.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., Thursday October 29, 2026 at the  Dougherty Funeral Home in Duluth, Minnesota, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.. Burial will follow in Parkview Cemetery, Hawthorne, Wisconsin. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home. 600 E. 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.