Judy Allison

Madison - Judy (Richardson) Allison, age 72, passed away on June 13, 2014 from Alzheimer's related complications.

Judy was born on June 17th, 1941 in Oconto, WI, to Harlow and Marge Richardson and grew up in both Gotham and Mountain, Wisconsin. After high school, Judy attended Milton College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned her bachelor's degree in business and accounting. After college, Judy worked for many years as a certified public accountant for Virchow Krause and Company auditing school districts and municipalities. Prior to retirement, Judy worked for Stoughton Utilities.

Judy spent much of her adult life in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where she was an active member of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church. She took several high school ministry backpacking trips to the Rocky Mountains and canoeing trips in the Boundary Waters where she often served as camp cook for Wisconsin youth. She loved to help people, whether it was as part of the church, in Sun Prairie Civic Theater, or as part of Parents Without Partners. An avid enjoyer of nature, Judy particularly enjoyed silent sports. Judy enjoyed biking, hiking, and camping in many of Wisconsin's State Parks. Judy especially enjoyed visiting Door County.

Later in life Judy was happy to meet Jerrold Jacobsen. They enjoyed gardening, music, biking, and traveling together. Judy especially enjoyed her time ballroom dancing with Jerry.

Judy had a zest and contagious enthusiasm for living life fully. She loved people, especially talking to friends and relatives, often so long that her children would give up waiting in the car for her and walk home from church. Judy's love of children was obvious as she would beam when engaging with children or talking about her children and grandchildren. Judy did not know the meaning of the word shy and raised her three children as a single mother with a strong will, determination, and energy. That strong will, when mixed with a wooden spoon, was not always a welcome attribute to her three boys at the time, but is now a poignant memory.

Judy was preceded in death by her mother Margaret (Popelka) Richardson and father Harlow Richardson.

Judy is survived by her three boys Glen (Sarah) of Middleton, WI, Greg of Edina, MN, and Tym of Ridgeway, WI and her three special granddaughters Katharine, McKenna, and Aubrin. Judy is also survived by two brothers, Larry of Lincoln, CA, and Jerry of Milwaukee and White Lake, WI, and by her special friend and soul mate Jerrold (Jerry) Jacobsen of Madison.

The family would like to thank the caring folks at Oakwood Village Covenant Oaks, Stoughton Hospitals, and most recently BrightStar Senior Living for all of the support they have provided to both Judy and her family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday July 1, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Bethany United Methodist Church, 3910 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705. A visitation with the family will be held two hours prior to the service starting at 9:00 A.M. A luncheon will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be directed to the Alzheimer's Association - South Central Wisconsin Chapter or the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.