Judith "Judy" King

Judy King, born on October 3, 1944, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly in Fond du Lac on April 4, 2026. If there is one thing Judy would want people to remember about her, it’s that she did what she wanted and she lived her life exactly her way. The most important people in her life were her daughter, Ami Jo, and her grandchildren, Jessie and Nathan. She never missed an opportunity to mention what good people they were; she loved to laugh with them, and she was deeply proud of them. The oldest of six children, she took her big sister role to her three sisters (Marlaine, Suzy and Chrys) and two brothers (Mark and Dick) very seriously. She checked in on all her siblings constantly, and every time they got together was guaranteed to be filled with laughter and memories. Her biggest adventures were with the great love of her life, Jerry Arthur, whom she met on a blind date (reportedly set up by one of her sisters, though nobody can really remember). Together, they went on endless roadtrips and weekend getaways, and shared a bond full of mischief and laughter—perhaps best highlighted by the time they dressed all in black (with masks) to steal a Christmas tree from the Super Value on Johnson and Main, just to see if they could get away with it. They did, driving around afterward just to make sure they weren't followed. Judy’s generosity was legendary. You'd think she was a millionaire because she bought gifts for everyone and she was so good at it. She loved finding the perfect, thoughtful birthday present for everyone, from her siblings to the neighbor's grandchildren to her lifelong friends—Ginny, Beth, Cheryl, and Floss—a tight-knit group that had been together since they were 19 years old. Because she didn't like being "recognized" for giving a gift, she would simply drop it at your door and leave. Her family also quickly learned never to answer a phone call from Judy on their birthday; what she really wanted was to sing "Happy Birthday" to you on your voicemail. Her unique approach to birthday wishes wasn't limited to voicemails though. Once, on her brother Mark’s birthday, she waited in her car outside of Sadoff until he finished work. The second he walked out, she belted out “Happy Birthday” for him and all his coworkers to hear. Once the song was over, she simply put the car in drive and pulled away without saying a single word. That does not mean she could carry a tune. But true to form, that didn’t bother her. She was also known to jump on a chair (she was tiny) and belt out the Star Spangled Banner at every family gathering (and possibly other occasions). She loved, loved, loved the ocean. Some of her happiest moments were spent gathering with her sisters, nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews for beach vacations on the Carolina barrier islands, especially Topsail Island. Back home, Judy had her daily rituals and passions: her daily McDonald's coffee, a Taco Bell grilled cheese burrito, and picking up a fresh stack of books from the library every week. She started every morning by texting her brother Mark and brother-in-law Evan a GIF, wishing them a good morning, and giving them the rundown on which sports teams were playing that day. A massive sports fan, she really loved the Wisconsin Badgers, and dressed in and surrounded herself with Wisconsin gear. She also loved her iPad, casino games, March Madness, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Judy was the ultimate hostess, finding an excuse to throw a party for everything: the Kentucky Derby, the annual Washerbox Tournament, putting up the Christmas tree, all the birthdays, the Annual Elf Party, and an Inauguration Party every time a Democrat won. While the rest of her family did potlucks, Judy insisted on cooking everything herself. She loved trying out Facebook recipes, and it was a well-known fact that a can of Rotel went into practically everything. She approached life with a fearless, hilarious spirit. When she got a riding lawn mower, she knocked down lawn statuary and everything else in the space, and didn't even realize she had hit anything. Her DIY skills were similarly enthusiastic; she was always painting cabinets and windows, leaving thick layers of paint on everything in the house. And no one will forget when she came to the Break Room on Scott Street on her granddaughter Jessie's 26th birthday, dressed as Michael Jackson—hat, glove, shoes—and sat down and had a beer. Judy is survived by her daughter, Ami Jo Mand, and her grandchildren, Jessie Trexell and Nathan (Cameron Steiner) Trexell. She is also survived by her siblings Marlaine (Andrea Hill) Stuck, Suzy McCallum, Chrys (Evan) Tautges, and Mark (Sandy Grieger) Stuck; her nieces and nephews Tiffany (Nick) Formiller, Tim (Shelle) McCallum, Emily (Avery Burns) Cotter, Colin (Lauren) Sullivan, Quinn (Tiffany) Sullivan, Shawna (Joe Masteller) Stuck, Colleen (Matt) Harmer, Brett Stuck, and Kieran Stuck; along with 27 great-nieces and nephews - all of whom loved her dearly and considered her a bonus grandmother. She was preceded in death by her beloved, Jerry Arthur, her parents Mark and Elaine Stuck, and her youngest brother Richard (Dick) Stuck. She leaves behind a family and friends who will forever be inspired by her humor, her boundless generosity, and her absolute commitment to living life on her own terms. Her family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at SSM St. Agnes for giving Judy such loving care. Judy did not want a funeral, because she didn’t want people sitting around crying over her. She did agree, however, to a big party, so there will be a celebration of life to be announced in the near future.

Judith "Judy" King

October 3, 1944 - April 4, 2026