Judy Kay Mead

Judy Kay Mead, age 77, passed away on December 4, 2024, at Cherry Meadows Hospice in Appleton. She was born on September 12, 1947, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, to the late R. Dale and Betty (McQueen) Klingensmith. She spent her childhood in Detroit with her brother Robert “Bob”. Upon graduating from Livonia Franklin high school in 1965, she went on to attend college at Eastern Michigan University where she received a BA in Education in 1971. While attending Eastern MI University, she met a young man, David Mead who was studying Business. He became the love of her life-Dave knew almost immediately that she was “the one” in spite of the fact that she was dating his roommate. 

The couple dated for 5 years before getting married on March 29, 1969. They lived in Ann Arbor while Dave finished his educational pursuits. Soon enough, their family began to grow, and the family moved to Boston and they lived in New Hampshire where two more additions to the family arrived. In 1989, work shifted the family’s location again, and they moved to the Fox Cities area where they spent the next 27 years in Neenah and then downsized and moved to Appleton for the last 8 years.

With her Education degree, Judy taught art in Saline, MI until the move to Boston and motherhood called. When sons Mike and Jeff arrived, Judy became a full-time mom and housewife. Judy was a “soccer (And every other sport) mom” before it was cool to be one, traveling to games and events for her three sons and eventually her grandchildren. 

Memories of the home in Traverse City are tantamount to “going to church” for the family. The house has been in Dave’s family for since 1910 and has such history. The family spent months during the summers on the lake after they returned to the Midwest. Activities like riding boats, floating on the bay, running jet skis and swimming. Later in their lives the adventures to the many wineries became par for the course. It was always about the food and wine for Judy and her family. The Wisconsin cottage on Legend Lake was also a place of respite for the family.

Judy’s friends became as family to her throughout the years. She loved playing bridge or sharing a book with her book club. Driving Meals on Wheels also offered her the opportunity to extend herself to others while also making new friends. 

Judy is survived by her husband of 55 years David, her sons: Brian (Melissa), Mike (Lisa) and Jeff (Jessica); grandchildren: Wesley, Isabelle, Mason, Harper, Brooklyn, and Mackenzie; and Casey the springer doodle. She is further survived by her brother Dr Robert (Linda) Klingensmith; brothers in law: Robert Mead and Dennis (Conni) Mead and nieces: Kathleen (Joel) Spahr and Kelly (Ted Wesp) Klingensmith and other good friends and family.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law Kathy Mead; aunt Faye (William) Bender.

A celebration of life will take place at a future date. Details will be updated when they become available.