Linda Carol (Kelsey) Wenzel

Linda Carol (Kelsey) Wenzel died August 29, 2025, (age 72) at the Dignity and Grace memory care facility in Backus, Minnesota. She was born on September 15, 1952, at Fort Kobbe, Panama Canal Zone, the second of 6 children born to Master Sergeant Joseph Kelsey and Elizabeth Ann Kelsey. When her parents split up in 1963, Linda, her 5 siblings and a half sister remained with their father.

Linda grew up at army bases around the United States, but in 1969 her dad was assigned to the Army Reserve unit in Walker where Linda attended the local high school. She met Robert (“Bob”) Leroy Wenzel, Jr. in Walker and after knowing him for only 3 weeks, they were married on April 10, 1971. This union flourished for 41 years and gave them 3 children: Robbie, Jessica and Paul. Linda was very invested in her family, devoting countless hours to activities that enhanced their lives and expressed her love for them. This included creative cooking and home decoration, school activities and general “cheerleading” to encourage them in their endeavors. She and her family loved animals and had numerous cats and dogs, at times in multiples. For a few years they even turned their home property into a hobby farm and owned some horses.

Linda developed a love of crafting that began when her dad took her to craft lessons on the army base. She made her immediate and extended family many creations, with Bob joining her in this hobby in his later years.  Extending her crafting skills to home enhancement, Linda taught herself how to install ceramic tile and apply decorative spackling to walls. Bob called her his “little carpenter.”

Firmly believing in making a financial contribution to the family as well, Linda was employed at four Walker business establishments: Dahlem’s Café, Tianna Farms, Gramma Jo’s assisted living, and finally Edgewood May Creek Assisted Living. She was a certified nursing assistant who truly loved people and chose employment focused on assisting aging adults. She devoted several years to caring for Bob before he passed in 2012. She herself had scoliosis as a child, so she knew what it was to endure discomfort and have patience with the healing process.

Linda was hospitable, warm, friendly and sweet. She always said, with a little smile, “I’m “daddy’s favorite.”  Indeed, this is probably true.

Those who have gone before her are her husband Bob (Nov. 7, 2012), her son Robert Leon (“Robbie”), her sisters Pat Bilodeau (half-sister) and Diana Lynn Foster, her brothers Paul, Joe, Jr., and Bob Kelsey, a great granddaughter Mayline Ray, and her father Joseph Frank Kelsey.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Jessica Lynn Swanson (Adam), her son Paul Jason Wenzel, her sister Teri Lee Bushie, her beloved grandchildren Madeline Rae, Kylie, Hayden, Carson and Gavin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her stepmother Marie Krueger Kelsey of Duluth and nephew Damon Donald Kelsey of Brainerd are heartsick at losing her.

The family will scatter Linda’s ashes in the spring (2026).

Linda’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN.  Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com.

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