Patricia Sester

Patricia Sester, age 87, of Waconia, MN, formerly of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society Senior Living – Waconia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. A prayer vigil and Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the church on Saturday. Fr. Shawn Polman and Fr. Michael Sester, LC, will celebrate the Mass, and inurnment will be at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Patricia Louise (Wagner) Sester was born on June 22, 1938, in Appleton, MN, to Heike and Gertrude (Nelson) Wagner. She attended school in Appleton and graduated from Appleton High School, where she laid the groundwork for a life filled with love, art, and service.

It was at the Sioux Historic in Ortonville where she first met Jim Sester, and their shared love of dancing sparked a lifelong romance. The couple married on March 1, 1958, and together they nurtured a family of four children. Pat and Jim were partners in life, founding Sester Equipment, where Pat demonstrated her meticulous nature and skill by managing the books for many years.

Patricia’s career path led her to serve as an optical assistant for Dr. Yeager Eye Care and for Dr. Conroy Eye Care. She helped patients select frames, fit their glasses, and taught them how to put in contact lenses. Later, she took on the role of church secretary at St. John’s Catholic Church, where she became an integral part of the congregation.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Patricia was deeply passionate about her hobbies. She found joy in decorating her home, tending to her garden, and watching the birds—activities that brought her immense pleasure and tranquility. A gifted artist, she loved to paint and often created beautiful works that reflected her vibrant spirit. Her talent extended to her involvement with the Larson Funeral Home, where she drew the covers for funeral memorial cards, a testament to her creativity and compassion.

She was also a dedicated volunteer, having served as an EMT for a time, and her love for music flourished as she sang with the St. John’s Church choir. Her family, particularly her cherished grandchildren, were the center of her universe; Patricia poured her love into every moment spent with them.

Left to cherish Patricia’s memory are her daughter, Terry (Tom) Hagen of Brandon, MN; her son, Todd (Karen) Sester of Rogers, MN; her son, Scott (Sandy) Sester of Minnetonka, MN; and daughter, Julie (Craig) Bennis of Deephaven, MN; her grandchildren: Fr. Michael, Br. John, Anthony, Rachel, Riley, Claire, Sarah, and Caroline; sisters-in-law: Virginia Michels of Alexandria, MN; Kathleen Morgan of Battle Lake, MN; and Patricia (Ken) Knudsen of Glenwood, MN; brother-in-law, Dave Forbes of Marshall, MN; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Jim in 2013; her parents: Heike Wagner, and Gertrude Brackenbury; her sister, Anita Antrim; sisters-in-law: JoAnn Kump, and Marilyn Forbes; and brothers-in-law: Tom Antrim, Joe Michels, George Morgan, and Dan Sester.

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