Judith N. Logsdon

Judith Nell Logsdon, 61, died Monday, October 12, 2009, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. She was surrounded by her family and friends, as she had been throughout life.

The daughter of Leonard and Lorene (nee: Miller) Logsdon, Judith was born on October 31, 1947, and raised in Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Tulsa and received her MA from Emerson College. She spent her adult years in Racine, where she raised her two children.

Judith was a teacher and writer by profession. She began her career teaching high school in Miami. After moving to Racine she taught at Gateway Technical College for five years then at the University of Wisconsin- Parkside for 15 years. She loved teaching Communication and Public Speaking classes, watching the growth of her students and assisting them with their career plans. She hosted a number of foreign exchange students at her home. She wrote a number of scholarly articles and also researched and wrote several family history books. She was a community leader who was often in the news.

Much of Judith’s community outreach activities, such as making meals for others and working at a hospice center, were inspired by her strong faith. She was a member of Evangelical United Methodist Church from 1983- 1995 and was a member of Christ Church United Methodist from 1995 until the time of her death. She was an active participant in both churches, involved in church planning, missions work and interior decorating and renovation projects.

A wide variety of interests kept Judith active. She loved to travel and spent 1994 in the Netherlands, where she received another MA from Emerson College. Her most recent earthly journey was to Egypt accompanied by her son, Michael. She was an avid reader and was always involved in a book club. She expressed her artistic nature in many ways. She liked to do quilting, knitting, cross stitch and needlepoint projects and often gave these items as gifts. A gourmet cook, she loved to host elegant dinner parties. Born on Halloween, she collected Halloween artifacts and at one time had a Halloween room in her home. She enjoyed gardening and her favorite flowers were lilacs.

Judith is survived by her son, Michael and Heather Pugh and granddaughter London; her daughter, Stephanie and Stephen Hunter and granddaughters Scarlett and Violet. She is also survived by her fiancé, Allen Klingenberg and his children, Kurt and Randi Klingenberg and their children, Sarah and Jenna; Allen’s daughters, Sandra and Tom Choisnet and their children, Lauren and Lindsey, and Debra and Richard Harness and their children, Elizabeth, Caroline, Garrett and William; sister, Pamela and Louis Burnett and their son Dalton. She is further survived by other relatives and numerous friends.

She was an exceptional and generous mother and grandmother, who had many friends. She loved people, and reached out to help others throughout her lifetime. She will be greatly missed.

A memorial service for Judith will be held at Christ Church United Methodist, 5109 Washington Ave., on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 5 p.m. with Rev. Mark Swanson officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Friday from 4 p.m. until the time of services. Memorials to Judith Nell Logsdon Scholarship fund at UW-Parkside have been suggested.

The family would like to thank all of the relatives and friends for their support during Judith's battle with cancer and to the professional staff at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

Purath-Strand Funeral Home & Crematory
3915 Douglas Ave., Racine (262) 639-8000