Franken, Judith Kay (Mrs. Greg) 1946-2016

FRANKEN, VANDERPLOEG, DERUYTER

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 7/19/2016 at 15:26:14

Judith Kay (Vander Ploeg) Franken of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, loved lakeside cabins, animals, children, traveling to National Parks, sewing gifts for family and friends, music, and most of all she loved her family. Judy passed away from cancer with her family by her side on July 3, 2016, at age 69.

Judy was born on October 28, 1946, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Wilma and Stanley Vander Ploeg. Stan passed away when Judy was young, and the family moved to Sioux Center, Iowa in 1963 when Wilma married James De Ruyter. Judy met Greg Franken when they were both students at Sioux Center High School. Right before Greg picked her up for their first date, Judy broke her glasses in half roughhousing with her brother, but wasn't about to miss the date so she watched The Sound of Music through one eye, holding up half of her glasses. Judy and Greg married on September 1, 1970.

Judy and Greg both attended Northwestern College, where Judy majored in elementary education and library science. She taught in Rock Valley, Iowa for a couple years before she and Greg moved to Minnesota, where their two daughters were born.

Judy and Greg moved to Sun Prairie in 1986. A supportive and affectionate mother, Judy spent endless hours driving her daughters to music lessons, leading Girl Scout troops, and volunteering in the schools. She would lie under the grand piano while her daughters practiced, saying that's where the best sound was. Judy traveled with the Sound of Sun Prairie marching band as a chuckwagon volunteer, and spent a day a week volunteering in the Madison East High School library, receiving a service award nomination from the Madison school district. After her daughters left home, Judy worked for nine years for the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Judy and Greg traveled extensively in their retirement. Both lovers of the outdoors, they were working on visiting as many National Parks as they could. Judy was particularly smitten with Glacier, Mount Rainier, and the Grand Canyon. They also enjoyed being part of the Mad City Vettes club.

Judy's happy place was a lakeside cabin. It didn't matter where; she just loved being by water. Every summer the family spent a week or two at the lake, and Judy would always wake early and sit out on the dock to watch the morning come.

She had a great talent for quilting, sewing, and stitching. She would spend months working on thoughtful handmade gifts, and not just for her family and close friends--the bulletin board in her sewing room is covered with pictures of friends' children and grandchildren wearing or holding gifts she made them, each one unique.

Judy lived her life with kindness, sincerity, gratitude, delight, and a very big heart. She was absolutely devoted to her family and friends, and she especially found great joy in being a grandmother.

Survivors include husband Greg Franken; daughters Kimberly (Thad Standley) Franken Standley of Bloomington, Minnesota and Jessica (Niko Tomlinson) Franken of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren Catherine and Gregory Standley; and brothers Dennis (Luann) Vander Ploeg of Manchester, Missouri, and Daryl (Dawn) Vander Ploeg of Lake Ozark, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service will be held at Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, 702 North St. in Sun Prairie, on Saturday, July 9 at 11 a.m., with Reverend Jenny Arneson officiating. There will be a time to gather from 9 to 11 a.m. Judy will be buried in a private ceremony at Memory Gardens in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The family suggests gifts in Judy's name be made to the Bernie Powers Band Foundation, P.O. Box 183, Sun Prairie, WI 53590; or Animal Rescue and Veterinary Support Services, P.O. Box 925, Sun Prairie, WI 53590.

Source: Cress Funeral Home online obituary.