Virgil C. Heydt

Virgil C. Heydt, 82, of Stewartville, MN, died on Wednesday (June 30, 2021) from complications of a short illness with heart failure, at Mayo Clinic Rochester - St. Mary’s Campus, where he had been a patient for the past week.

Virgil Clifton Heydt was born on October 17, 1938 on his family’s farm in Sargeant Township, Mower County, MN to Verl and Marjorie (Martin) Heydt. He grew up on the family farm, attended country and Austin schools, graduating from Hayfield H.S. in 1956. He enlisted into the US Navy serving 3 years including service overseas on the USS Macon in the Mediterranean Sea. Following his discharge he returned to rural Sargeant where he began farming with his family. Virgil was married on November 5, 1960  at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Sargeant to Laurene K. Dahlman. Following their marriage the couple farmed and lived on the Heydt Family Farm, which they later purchased and where they raised their family. They moved to Stewartville in 1980, where they have continued to make their home. Virgil was employed at IBM in Rochester for 17 years until his retirement and was then employed part-time as a delivery driver at Jimmy’s Dressings in Stewartville for a number of years. Laurene was a homemaker and was employed as a nurse at the Stewartville Care Center for a few years and at Seasons Hospice in Rochester for several years, until her retirement. She is currently employed part-time at Tarsilla’s Restaurant in Stewartville. Virgil was a lifelong member of Zion UMC in Sargent serving as an usher. He was a member of the Stewartville American Legion Post 164. He enjoyed traveling with Laurene including going on cruises, trips to Hawaii and camping with family and friends at Lake Mazaska near Faribault. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed following MN sports teams and really liked going to his kid’s, grandkid’s and great-grandkid’s sporting and school events. He enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and loved time spent with family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Virgil is survived by his wife of 60 years – Laurene;  1 daughter and 2 sons – Kevin( Anita) Heydt of  Stewartville; Rodney Heydt of Rochester and Karrie Heydt of Stewartville; 5 grandchildren – Brooke(Jeff) Naatz, Ben Heydt(Chelsey Costello), Nicole(Suzee) Mills, Kayla Heydt and Mikky Heydt; 6 great grandchildren – Dalton, Cayden, Brenna, Braelynn, Jackson and Brielle; 2 sisters and 2 brothers – Daryl(Lore) Heydt of Hayfield; Kay(Paul) Clayson of Rochester; Phil(Sherry) Heydt of Hayfield and Barb Nason of Stewartville and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his grandson – Dustin Heydt, his parents and brother-in-law - Bill Nason.

The memorial service for Virgil will be at 11:00 A.M. on  Monday (July  5, 2021) at Zion United Methodist Church in Sargeant, MN. with Rev. Paul Hauschild officiating.  Burial with military graveside honors will follow at High Forest Cemetery in High Forest, MN. A time of visitation for family and friends will be from 4 to 7:00 P.M. on Friday (July 2,         2021) at the United Methodist Church in Stewartville and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church in Sargeant on Monday morning. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Virgil are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.

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