Judith “Judy” Ann Budwig, 76, of Colwell, IA peacefully left this earth and entered heaven on Saturday, June 24, 2023, surrounded by her loving family, at MercyOne North Iowa Hospital. Judy won a courageous battle against several different types of cancers over her life and battled several heart issues in recent years. Through it all, she showed tremendous strength in the face of such adversity. Her legacy is defined by her will to never give up and to remain positive and hopeful. Judy was an inspiration who overcame the odds time and time again, and in the end, she entered into eternal life with her Lord and Savior.
Judy was born on June 8, 1947, in Mason City, IA to Delmar Jacobsen and Mary (Balaban); the oldest of four children. She was raised in Clear Lake, IA and graduated from Ventura High School in 1965. Judy then went on to earn her Bachelors of Education at the University of Northern Iowa in elementary education and later obtained her Special Education Endorsement from William Penn University. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Nashua, IA for a short time after graduating college. On September 16, 1972, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, James “Jim” Budwig and the couple celebrated 50 years of marriage together last year. After marriage, the couple moved to Colwell and started their family. Judy’s two children were the joy of her life, and she passed on her love for others onto them.
Judy found her purpose later in life as a special education teacher for Charles City Community Schools, where she worked until her retirement in 2013. After retirement her spirit continued to move her to help others. She worked for North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City as an Adult Education and Literacy Instructor. Judy was extremely passionate about education and helping others to recognize their potential. This was her true calling. She loved her students and took pride in helping them reach their goals. Judy was also an active member of the ADK (Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Sorority for Women Educators).
Judy was very active in the Colwell community and was a member of the Colwell United Church of Christ for over 40 years. She volunteered as the church’s secretary and was a longtime member of Women’s Fellowship. Judy was treasurer of the Colwell Culture Club and served for a long time on the Colwell City Council. Around town she was recognized as “grandma” to many people in the community. Judy loved handing out candy to all the kids in the community during the Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween every year.
Judy enjoyed vegetable gardening and canning anything she could. She was an excellent cook and baker; especially her pedenik and paska breads that she would make every Easter. One never went hungry at Judy’s house. She also enjoyed travel, and specifically enjoyed her trips to Montana with Jim, spending time with Jacob in West Des Moines, and her vacation with Katie to New Orleans.
One of Judy’s great joys in life was reading. She loved to sit down with a good book and read for half the day. She also enjoyed all types of videogames, from Nintendo to computer games and would often compete with her son to see who could beat the games first. Over her lifetime she cared for a number of pets. She developed a special love for cats and took in many who found their way to her doorstep. She was also blessed with a loving husband, and the two of them would sit for hours talking on the back deck while watching the birds and deer go by. Judy was a wonderful grandmother who adored her two grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them as often as she could. She would take them swimming; she carved pumpkins with them every Halloween and loved involving them in her baking. Judy regularly attended her granddaughter’s dance recitals and took nature walks with her grandson at the New Haven Potholes Park. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and an inspiration to everyone to never give up and to love others.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Jim Budwig of Colwell; children, Katie (Aaron) Kelly of Tipton, IA and Jacob Budwig of West Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Clay Kelly and Avery Kelly; brothers, Tom Jacobsen and Stephen (Bonnie) Jacobsen and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Delmar Jacobsen; mother, Mary Halberstadt and step-father, Hubert “Hap” Halberstadt; brother, Paul Jacobsen; sister-in-law, Liz Jacobsen, niece, Lisa Schrader, and close friend Darla Ahrends.
A Celebration to honor Judy’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to her family to assist with funeral expenses. Once expenses are paid, the family will donate the remainder in Judy’s name to the Colwell First Responders and NIACC’s Adult Education and Literacy Program.
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