Judy Ann Heath

Judy Ann Heath, 83, of New London, died Wednesday, December 25th at her home on Lake Andrew. Her funeral service will be 11:00 am, Monday, January 6th at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer. Visitation will be 3-5:00 pm, Sunday, January 5th at the church and continue one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Clover Leaf Cemetery in Willmar. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org

Judy Ann Heath was born June 24, 1941, to Oscar B. and Phyllis (Lundquist) Augustson in Willmar. She attended elementary school at Lincoln and Lafayette and graduated from Willmar High School in 1959. She continued her education at the University of Minnesota. On June 7, 1958, Judy was united in marriage to Donald Heath at First Presbyterian Church in Willmar. After marriage Judy and Don lived in married student housing through the University of Minnesota, while Don finished his schooling. In 1964, they moved to Hyattsville, MD, then began a forty-year period living outside of Minnesota. Twenty years in the Washington, DC area, nine in Houston, TX, two in Huntsville, AL, nine in California – split between northern CA and southern CA. Judy was a very active volunteer wherever she lived. She was particularly active in aerobics and did not just attend the exercise sessions, she would organize the women, informally, into a group that not only did aerobics, but became a social group that participated in civic and charitable organizations. This, in every city she lived.

Volunteerism was in Judy’s blood. She was a volunteer in Memorial City General Hospital of Houston, TX in the neonatal unit for 7 years and received recognition for thousands of hours of volunteer service with her name on a brass plaque posted there. Moving to Huntsville, AL in 1966, Judy took on the role of a den Mother for a cub scout troop and made sure both of her children became Boy Scouts. Judy always read Bible stories to her children and made sure they were faithful attendees at her church.

While living in the Bay Area of San Francisco and San Jose she trained as a docent for the San Jose Historical Society and gave tours of Old Town San Jose. In the San Diego area while living in Cardiff by the Sea, Judy volunteered with a non-profit organization that used docile trained animals as “tools” in therapy for mental and physical issues in both older adults as well as children. She was thrilled to see an aged woman who hadn’t shown emotion or talked for years, literally “come alive” smile and speak while holding and stroking a dog Judy had placed on her lap!

While living in McLean, Va in the 1990s and until moving back to Minnesota in 2003, Judy trained as a docent for the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and gave tours there. She was also a member of the Republican Women of Virginia and made it clear that “women are the life of the Party.” Judy was very active in this organization and spent considerable time volunteering for the realization of their activities and objectives.

Judy’s church in whatever city she was living was central to her being. She sang in the choirs, taught Sunday School, belonged to the various women’s committees that not only served the congregation, but also the local community. As a member of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, VA, Judy became director of the Second Saturday Set (SSS), a large group of members consisting of couples in their mid 40s to mid 70s. They met the second Saturday of each month and were the heart of the church - owing to the activities in which they were involved each month. It was Judy’s role to organize, coordinate, and schedule these activities and she did this for the last seven years prior to moving back to Minnesota in June of 2003.

Retiring on Lake Andrew was Judy’s dream. She made sure this would happen when she and Don bought property there in the Christmas season of 1983-84. That property became the regular place to live while visiting all her Minnesota relatives in summers and at key holidays or family events. Judy also enjoyed volunteering at Little Crow Golf Course where she helped organize a Ladies 9-Hole League and others through the golf course. She was a loving wife, mom, grandma and friend.

Judy is survived by her husband, Don; sons: Jeffrey (Celeste) Heath and Christopher Heath both of Houston; grandchildren: Aubrey (Michael) Becker, William (Mackie) Heath and great-grandchildren: Shephard and Rosemary; and Aimée (Mike) Record; siblings: Joan Kodet and Jane (Paul) Hedin; sisters-in-law: Jackie Augustson and Nancy Augustson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Jerome Augustson, Jennifer Lee Augustson, and John Victor Augustson; and brother-in-law, Ron Kodet.

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