Jessica (Jessie) Mary Wolfgang Anderson

 

Jessica (Jessie) Mary Wolfgang Anderson, age 45 of Grand Marais, MN passed away with her family by her side on Sunday January 8th, 2023, at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN after a stoic battle with cancer.

Celebration of life was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais, MN on Wednesday, January 18th, 2023. The service was recorded on: www.youtube.com/@bethlehemlutheranchurch7397/streams

If you are so inclined, we welcome you to wear Minnesota Twins gear to the service in honor of Jessie’s love for the Twins.

Jessica Mary Wolfgang was born on July 26th, 1977, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to David and Kathy (King) Wolfgang. She was the oldest of 4 children born to Dave and Kathy.

Jessie was a 1995 graduate of Washington High School in Sioux Falls. She played high school volleyball and played club softball with the Brandon Blast. With her talent and love of the game she landed a spot on the Augustana softball team, where she played 3rd base. She graduated from Augustana University (Sioux Falls) in 1999 where she majored in Elementary Education with a minor in Coaching.

After graduation from Augustana, she moved to Grand Marais and worked various jobs until she found her calling as the Assistant Coach for the brand-new fast pitch softball program at Cook County High School. Head Coach Sue Nelson quickly recognized that Jessie’s wealth of knowledge and love of the game warranted a promotion to the Head Coach position. She remained Assistant Coach the first year, but the following spring took the job of Head Coach. She moved back to Sioux Falls after the softball season was over in 2001. Once back in Sioux Falls, she accepted a job teaching at Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare. She moved back to Grand Marais the Spring of 2007 where she and Kyle took over Trailside Cabins and Resort and she ran the business until October 2021. During the off-season from the resort, she worked for Cook County Schools as a paraprofessional, and reclaimed her position as Head Softball Coach.

Jessie was married to Kyle Anderson in 2002 and together they were blessed with three beautiful children: Kole Roger Anderson (17), Kallie Rosemary Anderson (14), and Kwinn Kathleen Anderson (11). Jessie and former spouse Kyle remained friends and were devoted to co-parenting their children until her passing.

Jessie was united in marriage to her best friend and the love of her life, Annalisa Marie Winje on February 28th, 2022, where she gained two beautiful stepchildren: Jack Henry Peck (21) and Kate Harris Peck (17).

She was a huge all-around baseball fan, but she was a steadfast Minnesota Twins fan. Summertime meant trying to squeeze trips in – heading south with the kids to Target Field where she felt the most joy. She enjoyed keeping up on the daily news in the baseball world and was proud of her fantasy baseball team each year. She loved the holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween and decorating for the holidays brought her great happiness. She cherished time with her family more than anything and was always up for a good road trip to be near those dear to her heart.

Jessie treated everyone she met with kindness and gifted them with her gentle demeanor. She had a calming presence that always left a person feeling genuinely cared for and heard. She had a quick wit and great talent for sarcasm! She told the best stories and would take her time being sure to get all the funny details in. Her smile could light up a room and her sense of humor was one to be reckoned with.

Jessie’s three children were her proudest accomplishment and her whole world. She worked selflessly and drove many miles to ensure they made it to all their various sports and activities, and nothing made her happier than watching them participate and excel in the things they loved. She was fiercely protective and proud of them. Her love for them was unparalleled.

As a softball coach she treated her players equally and with respect no matter what their level of talent was or what their background was when they showed up on the first day of practice. She was the epitome of what a coach should be, and her players will forever attest to that.

Jessie was loved by everyone who met her. She will never be forgotten, and she will carry on in all our hearts. We must remember to keep telling the stories, keep sharing the laughs, keep kindness to others as a priority and love each other and this will keep our memories of her alive.

Jessie was preceded in death by Grandparents Gerald and Rose Wolfgang, Granddad James King and Uncle Larry DeBoer.

Grateful for having shared in Jessie ‘s life are her loving wife, Annalisa Winje, son Kole Anderson, daughter Kallie Anderson, daughter Kwinn Anderson, stepson Jack Peck, stepdaughter Katie Peck, parents Dave and Kathy Wolfgang, brother Chad Wolfgang (Jamie), brother Brian Wolfgang (Renae), sister Melissa Wolfgang, Grandmother Mary King, and many adoring aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, family, teammates, players and friends.

*Memorials may be directed to the Jessie Anderson Scholarship Fund at the North Shore Federal Credit Union in Grand Marais, MN. This scholarship fund has been established to benefit Jessie’s 3 children, Kole, Kallie and Kwinn. NSFCU phone: 218-387-1312