Judith Siebler

Judith (Judy) Anne Siebler, 79, passed away after a brief illness peacefully on May 28, 2024 in Kalamazoo, MI with her loving sister Pam at her side. Judy was born on April 9, 1945 in Santa Barbara, CA to Fred Carl Siebler and Margaret Carroll (Davis) Siebler. Soon thereafter, the Siebler family moved to Aurora, NE to be near family. Within five years, however, the Siebler family moved to New Troy, MI, again following family, where Judy attended elementary, junior high, and high school, graduating in 1963. The schools' locations were directly across from the Trojan Grill, a small popular business with attached living quarters for the six Siebler family members. Judy enjoyed working behind the counter at the Trojan Grill and learned so many life lessons during those years.

Judy was a fun-loving, caring, intelligent, kind, and generous person who made friends easily. Many of her childhood friendships remained strong right up to her passing. Following graduation from New Troy High School, Judy attended Grace College in Winona Lake, IN and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in teaching. Judy's first teaching assignment was in Kendallville, IN where she taught elementary school while earning her master's degree at the University of St. Francis. In 1979, Judy answered the urge to move west, where she had several friends from Grace College. She was adventurous and did not worry that no particular job was awaiting her. Friends welcomed her into their homes and lives, and she soon landed a teaching position in WA at the Harrah Community Christian School. She later taught elementary, junior high, alternative high school, and evening classes in Wapato, Yakima, and Kelso, WA. She especially enjoyed her students in junior high and retold many stories about how she hoped she was able to touch their lives with her own joy that she loved giving away. She had a gift for taking troubled students under her wing.

Following her retirement and the passing of her beloved companion, Gale, Judy felt it was time to relocate from Kelso, WA and experience new adventures. One of her favorite pastimes was to simply get behind the wheel, roll down the windows, put on a CD, and drive, often to another state. It was in the early 2010s that she found her happy place in Santa Fe, NM, the state known as the Land of Enchantment. The charm of the landscape, the lifestyle, the sunsets, the desert, the healing spirits and integrity of native beliefs - all of this appealed to Judy's heart and soul. In Santa Fe of course she made another group of friends, maintaining her old friendships all the while. She was a great communicator. Friends and family bore witness to her daily determination to be the best she could be and to pass on that positivity. On hearing of Judy's passing, friends commented on her making the world 'softer and warmer' and could hardly imagine the world without her in it. Nobody expected to lose her so soon.

Judy is survived by her sister, Pam Olmstead (Kalamazoo, MI); nephews Ian Olmstead, Justin Olmstead and niece Megan Uiterwyk (Australia); nephew Dane Olmstead (MI); nephew Jonathan Rickless (MI); nephew Stephen Siebler (IL); brother-in-law Ed Rickless (NC); sister-in-law Mary Siebler (IL); Aunt Jean Davis (MT); grandnephews, grandnieces, and cousins.

Judy is predeceased by father Fred Carl Siebler (1982); mother Margaret Carroll Siebler (2005); infant brother Stephen William Siebler (1947); sister Caroline Sue Rickless (2006); brother John Dennis Siebler (2022); nephew Andrew Rickless (2007); grandparents William and Hattie Siebler; grandparents David and Ruth Davis; aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her devoted friend and companion of several years, Gale Karspeck, passed away in 2010.

According to Judy's wishes, she was cremated, and her cremains will reside in the columbarium at the First United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo, alongside the ashes of other family members. A celebration of Judy's life will be held in late July in MI, details to be announced. Memorial donations may be sent to Kairos Dwelling, the 501(c)3 organization where Judy spent her final hours under the loving and compassionate care of both volunteers and hospice professionals at 2945 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. She was suffering from cancer; an air ambulance took her to rest where angel dust both greeted and farewelled her. Rest in Peace, darling Judy.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Judy's guestbook and/or share a memory with her family.

The Siebler family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, MI 49002. 269-344-5600