Vickie (Ressie) Will

Victoria (Vickie) Ann (Ressie) Will, age 73, of Winona, Minnesota, passed away on September 18, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply, after an extended battle with breast cancer.

Vickie was born on July 8, 1953, to Ronald K. Ressie Sr. and Margaret J. (Kamp) Ressie. She was the second child in the Ressie family and the oldest sister among eight siblings. The eldest four Ressie children lost their mother very early in life. Through that profound loss, their paternal grandparents, Frank and Myrtle Ressie, surrounded the children with unwavering love and spiritual guidance. Grandmother Myrtle was a shining light to all who knew her. Vickie cherished her deeply and modeled her own life after that same gentle, loving spirit.

Vickie’s first job was as a “soda jerk” at Holtan’s general store in Winona. In 1973 she married her childhood sweetheart, William Kanthack, and together they welcomed their daughter Stephanie. Though Bill and Vickie later divorced, they remained friends until Bill’s passing earlier this year.
In 1975 Vickie and sister Sherry joined youngest sister Lila in the typing pool at Wincraft in Winona. Sisters-in-law Linda and Bobbie later joined the team, and the women shared countless stories of their adventures there.

On May 26, 1978, Vickie married Mark Will. They welcomed daughters Lindsay and MaryJane. The family enjoyed many trips to Whitewater for camping, summer parties, and Fourth of July fireworks gatherings with the extended Will family. Mark and Vickie later divorced but remained friends in their daughters’ lives.

In 1980 Vickie was hired to help open the new Winona Kmart store during its construction. She worked her way from the cash office to front desk associate, then into the HR position, and later served as assistant manager at the Rochester, Minnesota store. She loved working for Kmart. Over her 33 years there she treasured many friendships and contributed in countless ways to the success of the Winona store—through creative window displays, participating with her daughters in fashion shows, and that memorable voice on the customer service call buttons. She retired from Kmart in 2013 to help her daughter Stephanie as office manager at her business.

Vickie was not only a manager by profession; she was a manager of life for her family. She always took charge of what needed to be done while still finding time to listen and respond with grace in every situation. She was creative, adventurous, unafraid, and always on your side. She made every special occasion personal with hand-decorated cakes, handmade quilts, individual favorite desserts, birthday meals—anything she could create to show someone how special they were to her.

Soft and gentle, Vickie was always there for anyone who needed her. She was not only Mom to her three girls but extended her arms to all of their friends. Whether you knew her as Vick-Chicklets, Mama Vickie, or Bickie, she held a special place in her heart for you. And if she gave you a nickname, you had probably gotten into a little trouble at some point with one of her daughters.

Her trio of girls shared so many wonderful memories of their mom’s love, her special perfume scent, and her unending sense of humor. She was always ready to laugh with you -often to tears and her laughter was contagious.

Vickie was blessed with six grandchildren—Jace, Issiah, Charley, Kaelyn, Ashley, and Lizzy. These children understood their Grammie’s loving heart like no one else. She was their safe place, their confidant, and their treat provider. She always had their favorite ice cream in her freezer. Her grandchildren were her absolute pride and joy, and she was over the moon in love with her GiGi’s Greatest—great-grandchildren Zyanna, Zaniyah, and Eliana.

While battling cancer, Vickie never complained about the challenges she faced. She took every day in stride and cherished the time spent with her daughters at every treatment appointment and the lunches that followed. Her sense of humor reigned as they laughed and cried together through the chaos, while she brought an unmatched determination to win. Even in her last week of life she was making jokes to make her family laugh instead of cry. She won the battle three times, attributing her caring nurses at Emplify Health, her sisters Sherry and Lila, her daughters, and the love of her family as the keys to those successes. We continue to admire her strength and determination to spend her very last seconds with her family.

Vickie was the cornerstone of her family’s strength. She will be remembered always for her caring nature and her fierce protection and love for her daughters and family.

Vickie was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents; her brother Ronald (Edith) Ressie Jr.; her sister Elizabeth Ressie; former husband William Kanthack; niece Jessica Cady, nephew Tye (Katie) Hemmelman; great-nephew Tucker Hemmelman; and great-granddaughter Zariyah Will.

She is survived by her sisters Sherry (Ressie) (Randy Stoddard) Holzer, Lila (Ressie) (Ron) Cady, and Melissa Ressie; her brothers Brian (Linda) Ressie and Bill Ressie; her daughters Stephanie (Brice Losinski) Kanthack, Lindsay (Brent Halverson) Will, and MaryJane Will; nephews Ben (Dana) Cady and Josh (Ashley) Cady; nieces Dodi (Jared) Daffinson and SamiJo (El) McClatchey; great-nephew Conner Hemmelman; grandchildren Jace Carney, Issiah (Aaliyah Schultz) Will, Charley (Zechariah Wright) Williams, Kaelyn (Alice Stanford) Carney, Ashley Brommerich, and Lizzy Brommerich; great-grandchildren Zyanna Will, Zaniyah Will, and Eliana Wright; as well as many extended family members and special friend Rick Bell.

A service of remembrance will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 676 W Sarnia St, Winona, MN 55987, on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., with the service following at 11:00 a.m., led by Pastor Adam Burge. Fellowship will follow the service.

Vickie’s light—her laughter, her quiet strength, her boundless love—will continue to shine in every life she touched.