Connie E.

(Gray) Hesse

Connie Eileen (Gray) Hesse, 76, of Lake Mills, WI, died at Fort Memorial Hospital on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following a sudden medical issue.

Connie was born on January 10, 1950, in North Dakota. Her family moved to Lake Mills when she was a young girl. A few years after graduating high school in 1968, she met the love of her life, Greg. They married on January 12, 1973, and settled in Lake Mills for the remainder of their lives. Greg preceded Connie in death in May 2024.

Being the eldest of eight boisterous siblings helped shape Connie's pragmatic approach to life and work. She demonstrated her ironclad work ethic year after year as she rose through the ranks at Hamlin (which split into Standish, then became Planar). Upon her well-deserved retirement, she and Greg were able to enjoy extensive travel. And while they loved their many explorations, they were always most content during the months they spent in their second home, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they got to dig their toes in the sand and enjoy life with their gringo friends and the many locals they befriended over the years.

Connie will always be remembered as "that lady who used to have red hair" who could deftly handle any challenge life tossed her way, who could boogie with the best of 'em, who dearly loved laughing with her family and friends, who was never not reading at least two books, and who firmly believed that a big glass of wine could abate almost any problem.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Joyce Gray; her in-laws, Ernie Hesse and Jackie Hesse, her sister, Charlotte; her brothers, Kenny and Warren; sisters-in-law, Denise and Kathy; and other dear friends and relatives.

Survivors include her son, Chris Frey (Marinda); her daughters, Julia (Jaimi) Allen-Hesse and Sarah (Chris Vincent) Hesse; her grandkids, Aaron, Tyler, Lennii, and Sadie; her brothers and her sisters-in-law, Darrel, Danny (Kim), Jim, Tim (Margo), and Lori; her especially adored niece, Tara Castillo; and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and pals.

A celebration of life with a brief service will be held on Saturday, November 14, at the American Legion in Lake Mills. The celebration of life will run from 1pm until 5pm with the service at 2pm.

If desired, memorials can be directed to Sunrise Reach.

www.claussenfuneralhome.com