Judith M. (Judy) VanNatta

Judith M. “Judy” VanNatta, age 78, of Platteville, WI, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics due to complications from heart valve replacement surgery.

To honor Judy’s life, funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017 at the Lutheran Church of Peace, Platteville. Rev. Mike Short will officiate. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Memorials may be made to the Judith M. “Judy” VanNatta Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Judy was born March 9, 1939 in Platteville, WI, seventh daughter of Walter and Anna Weigel. She was united in marriage to Marlyn VanNatta on July 6, 1957 at the Peace Lutheran Church parsonage. He preceded her in death January 1, 2010 after 52 years of marriage.

Early in her working career, Judy worked at Pizza Hut and Rountree Restaurant, acting as both waitresses and hostess respectively. She worked at Dick’s Supermarket Bakery; HomeTowne Bakery; and Glenview Commons at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

After retirement, Marlyn and Judy enjoyed traveling, having visited Alaska four times, once on their 50th wedding anniversary and along with their son Randy and his family for his son and daughter-in-law’s 25th wedding anniversary. After Marlyn passed away, Judy loved to travel, taking many summer vacations with her children and grandchildren to Disney World; St. Louis; South Dakota; Door County; Mackinac Island and the Upper Michigan Peninsula, many camping trips, and three Caribbean cruises.

An active member of Lutheran Church of Peace and avid Thrift Shop volunteer, Judy was an amazing woman who loved the outdoors, hiking, walking, traveling, four-wheeler rides, camping, reading, baking, doing Sudoku puzzles, bowling on (not one but) two leagues, knitting hats and mittens for church, donating blood, trying new recipes, and the list goes on and on and on, including many relaxing car rides with her special friend, Bob. She was a very young 78, and gave the Army a run for their slogan–“we do more before 9am than most people do all day.”

Everyone who knew Judy loved and adored her, and she will forever be missed for her smile and sense of humor. Judy’s last act of giving was by donating some tissue and her eyes.

Judy doted on her 8 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, plus a third due in September 2017. Every year, she baked and frosted dozens of cookies for the grandchildren to decorate.

Judy is survived by four children, Terry (Diane) VanNatta of Platteville, WI; Randy (Virginia) VanNatta of Platteville, WI; Shawn (Lisa) VanNatta of Milwaukee, WI; and Michelle (Mark) Whitaker of Dubuque, IA; eight grandchildren: Adam VanNatta, Shelby (Jim) Cole; Molly (Quinn) Loucks, Mallory VanNatta, RJ Boutillier, Van Whitaker, Sophia Whitaker, and Reed Whitaker; three great-grandchildren Phoenix Cole, Atlas Cole (due September ’17) and Natalie Loucks; three sisters Eileen Yaeger, Platteville, WI; Donna (Dick) Olthafer, Platteville, WI; and Joyce Smith, Bloomer, WI; brother-in-law Ralph Cullen, sisters-in-law Ann Weigel and Sharon Carpenter; many nieces and nephews; and special friend Bob Burbach. She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Bette Curtis, Shirley Kjos, Joan Cullen, and two brothers Donald Weigel and Richard Weigel.

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