Judith Joan Joergens (82) of Effingham

Judith Joan Joergens, 82, of Effingham, IL passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Willowbrook Memory Care in Effingham with her family by her side.

Judy was born March 28, 1941 in Champaign, the daughter of Elton and Gertrude (Scott) Smith. She married Eldon Dale Joergens on December 18, 1960 at St. John Lutheran Church in Champaign, and he preceded her in death on July 1, 2022. Judy was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham, HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and a board member for the Family Life Center in Effingham. Judy thrived on being around people and continually demonstrated compassion for others. She especially loved her time with family and found much joy in the time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Children were Judy’s passion, and she was affectionately called Mom by the students who rode her Unit 40 “Angel” bus. As a teacher assistant at St. John’s Eagle’s Nest Preschool, Judy cherished the years spent with young children and their families. Other fond times for Judy were Minnesota vacations with the Clinton gang, golf and social outings with church friends, Florida winters and vacations with Eldon, and cheering on the Illini and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Judy is survived by her daughter Julie (Marcy) Scott of Effingham and her son Marc (Anne) Joergens of Columbia, IL; twin brothers, Bob (Karen) Smith and Jim (Carole) Smith of Champaign; grandchildren, Zach (Monica) Scott, Meghan (Cory) Wahl, Brady (Shayna) Scott, Sara, Nicole and Luke Joergens; and great-grandchildren, Avery, Nolan and Alivia.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters and brothers-in-law Kaye (Nate) Bohlen and Joyce (Bob) Vandiver, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeannine and Leroy Wente.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham, followed by a private family burial at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, 22775 E 700th Avenue, Dieterich, IL. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Friday at the church in Effingham prior to the funeral service. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Eagle’s Nest Preschool, 901 W. Jefferson, Effingham or the Family Life Center, 605 Eden Avenue, Effingham. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Judy’s family would like to give special thanks to Willowbrook Memory Care, HSHS Hospice, StoneBridge Memory Care, Annette Wendling, and St. John’s Lutheran Church for their compassionate and loving care.