Hastings school board member, beloved coach dies unexpectedly at age 44

Tributes and condolences poured in from far and wide for the family of a Hastings school board member and youth soccer coach who died over the weekend.

Jenny Wiederholt-Pine, 44, of Miesville died Saturday “peacefully” at Regina Medical Center in Hastings, according to her online obituary. The obit did not list a cause of death.

Wiederholt-Pine and her family are owners of Wiederholt’s Supper Club, a popular eatery in the small Dakota County town of Miesville.

“We can’t thank you all enough for the outpouring of love, support and prayers during this devastating time in our lives,” a posting on the supper club’s Facebook page read.

Wiederholt-Pine graduated from Hastings High School and was a director on the Hastings school board. She was elected in 2023.

“She leaves an unfillable void on our board and in our community,” a statement from the Hastings school board said. “She always worked hard to do the right thing. She dedicated a large part of her life to not only her kids, but all kids in the community through her work on the board and coaching. She was a true leader and will be greatly missed.”

The district canceled Wednesday’s school board work session and rescheduled it for Feb. 19.

Wiederholt-Pine graduated from Winona State University in 2003, according to her LinkedIn page. The mother of three was also a benefits adviser at Kraus-Anderson.

For several years, Wiederholt-Pine served as a head coach, co-coach or assistant coach for both boys and girls soccer teams with HFC United (HFC) based in Hastings. Most recently, she was an assistant coach with the club’s 13-and-under boys red team, according to club officials.

“Jenny was a beloved coach who took the time to work with each and every one of her kids to help make them not only better soccer players, but better teammates, to reinforce the idea and the importance of sportsmanship, and to make sure that they remembered it was just a game,” said the club’s Vice President Rob Halberg. “She tried to make our club and our kids to be the best that they could possibly be.”

Known for her energy and passion, Wiederholt-Pine went above and beyond, said Kali Taylor, team manager for the U13 boys team.

“On many occasions, she would show up to a game or practice in her work clothes because being there for the boys was so important to her,” Taylor said. “Whether she realized it or not, she was a big role model in her players’ lives. Her coaching and support will certainly help form the men they become.”

HFC plans to honor her in the near future, board members said.

Hundreds of others expressed their love for Wiederholt-Pine and shared condolences for her family in online posts.

“She was more than a coach, advisor or school board member — she was a lifeline for many,“ one poster wrote.

Wiederholt-Pine’s father, Charlie, was a longtime competitor in competitive reining horse, a Western horse-riding sport, and a board member with the North Central Reining Horse Association. The association puts on events in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Jenny Wiederholt-Pine had participated in events on and off since her youth but was getting back into competing more consistently, said Diane Clark, who handles communication for the organization.

Wiederholt-Pine had won the association’s nonprofessional saddle competition in 2020 and last summer, and was to receive a 2024 award at an upcoming banquet, Clark said.

Asked if Wiederholt-Pine was good, Clark said, “Oh, yeah.” Humble, too, she added.

“She was so positive and optimistic about stuff,” Clark said. “When she won, she’d say, ‘I was lucky today.’ When it didn’t, it didn’t shake her. She was an easygoing soul. Everybody knew her and everybody loved her.”

A public visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St., Hastings. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Miesville.