Dec. 25, 2023
Virgil Carl Voigt, DVM, 83, husband of Kay, of Hutchinson passed away Dec. 25 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Mass of Christian burial was Dec. 30 at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson. Clergy officiating was the Rev. Paul Wolf. Organist was Bev Wangerin. Song leader was Bobbi Ludewig. Music selections were“Be Not Afraid,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “As A Deer Longs for Running Water,” “I Am The Bread of Life,” “Silent Night," “Song of Farewell” and “Naval Hymn.” Casket bearers were Brett Anderson, Brian Miller, Spencer Kruse and Charlie Voigt. Military honors were by Hutchinson Memorial Rifle Squad.
Virgil was born March 4, 1940, in Glencoe, the son of Carl and Martha (Scheele) Voigt. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in his faith as a youth, both at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. He received his early education in Glencoe, and was a graduate of the Glencoe High School in 1958. Virgil furthered his education at Mankato State University, and received his bachelor’s degree in 1963.
Virgil was commissioned and began active military service in the United States Navy on Feb. 14, 1964. He attended officer training school and was a navigator for anti-sub warfare Unit UP45 out of Jacksonville, Florida, flying P2V Neptune and P3 Orion aircraft. He exited active duty Jan. 30, 1968, and began a career in the U.S. Naval Reserves navigating P3 Orion anti-sub aircraft and retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander after 27 years of service.
On June 12, 1965, Virgil was united in marriage to Kay Kruger at St. George Catholic Church in Glencoe. This marriage was blessed with four children, Charles, Missy, Bill and Mary. Virgil and Kay resided initially in Jacksonville while serving the Navy, St. Paul while in veterinary school, and for a short while in Glencoe, before moving to Hutchinson in 1975. They shared 58 years of marriage.
After active-duty service, Virgil attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, graduating in 1973. After graduation, Virgil was employed at Glencoe Veterinary Clinic for a year before moving to Hutchinson and joining Hutchinson-Stewart Veterinary Clinic. In a career that spanned more than 40 years, he practiced large and small animal medicine for the first 20 years. In the later half of his practice, he opened Crow River Veterinary Clinic and focused on small animal treatment. He was a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson. Virgil was active in his community and served in many organizations including the board of directors for Marquette Bank, McLeod County Fair Board, and president of the Gopher Campfire Sanctuary Board. He was also president of the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce, president of the Hutchinson Ambassadors, president of Kiwanis, member of the VFW Post 906 and Elks Lodge No. 2427, commander of the American Legion Post 96, commander of Voiture 414, chairman of the Hutchinson Parks and Recreation Board, member of the Brownton Rod and Gun Club, member of the Silver Lake Gun Club, and chairman of the Hutchinson Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. In 2009, Virgil was recognized for his tremendous outreach and accomplishments and was awarded “Mr. Hutchinson.”
Virgil had a passion for nature. He was a lifelong conservationist and outdoorsman, who worked hard to improve our natural resources. Virgil was the founding member and president of the McLeod County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, served as a member of the McLeod County Agriculture Association, served on the Hutchinson Tree Board, Hutchinson Charter Commission, Water Quality Task Force, Wetland Technical Advisory Committee, and founded the Gopher Campfire Bluebird Day. In 1994, Virgil converted his 160-acre family farm to a permanent wildlife conservation area by planting tall grass prairie. He loved to go on hunting and fishing trips around Minnesota, Canada or South Dakota, or traveling even further to far east Russia. Virgil also enjoyed sitting in the backyard and watching the wildlife. Most of all, he cherished the time he spent with his family and friends.
Blessed be his memory.
Virgil is survived by his wife, Kay Voigt of Hutchinson; children, Dr. Charles Voigt and his wife, Lara of Rapid City, South Dakota, Missy Anderson and her husband, Brett of Watertown, Bill Voigt of Glencoe, Mary Voigt and her husband, Brian Miller of St. Paul; grandchildren, Ellen Voigt (Spencer Kruse), Anne Voigt, Charlie Voigt, Wink Voigt, Evelyn Anderson, Louisa Miller, Beatrice Miller; siblings, Ruth Wolter of Gaylord, Rose Kauffmann of Arlington; special niece, Jeanne Bjergo of Eagan; many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Martha Voigt; brother-in-law, Edward Kauffmann.
Memorials preferred to Pheasants Forever, Gopher Campfire Sanctuary and St. Anastasia Catholic Church.
Arrangements by Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com.
