Kathleen “Kay” Hensgens, age 88, of Minneapolis, passed away on April 16, 2025, peacefully and comfortably surrounded by family. She was born on March 9, 1937, to Harold and Grace Wilson.
As a child, Kay loved her gymnastic classes and camping with her family in Gooseberry Falls State Park. Later, with a lifelong passion for the arts, she trained as a classical ballerina at the Andahazy Ballet Company in Minneapolis. Then, after graduating from Southwest High School, she set off for New York to pursue a career in ballet. Upon returning to Minneapolis, she studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the University of Minnesota where she met her future husband, Guillaume (Gill) Hensgens.
After Kay graduated from U of M with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, she started her long-time career as a Title Examiner at Old Republic Title Insurance Company. Upon retirement, she and Gill realized their dream and built and enjoyed a lovely retirement home in Two Harbors, MN, amidst five acres of majestic white pines on the breath-taking north shore of Lake Superior.
A fine artist with a delightful sense of humor, Kay enjoyed the arts, books and sketching. Her last years were spent Joyfully and peacefully at Lexington Landing in Highland Park, Saint Paul. The family feels tremendous gratitude for the caring and loving staff of Arbor Care at Lexington Landing, as well as the kind team at Optage Hospice.
Kay was preceded in death by her, husband Gill daughter Kathleen Olson, and brother David Wilson. She is survived by her children, Marguerite Cutchey, Emily Olson, and Nicolas Hensgens (Christine); and her grandchildren; Alexander and Brian Cutchey, Kaitlyn Jeong (Jason), Maxwell and Isaac Olson, and Evelynn and Guillaume Hensgens. She also leaves her sister, Anne Orfald; and son-in-law, Chris Olson, as well as many other family members and friends.
