Judy Rose Rudge Wessel

Judy Rose Rudge Wessel passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on January 14th. Judy was born in April of 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri and was the youngest child of Albert and Margaret Rudge. Judy’s mother died when she was an infant and her father, a former U.S. Olympic soccer player, was unable to raise her. She was adopted by her devoted Aunt Josephine and Uncle Henry Haneklau. She had a brother, Bill Rudge, and a cherished sister, Joan Rudge, who both preceded her in death. She had great love for her cousins Ro Sommers and the late Colonel Jack Haneklau and Bob Haneklau, as well as her numerous nieces and nephews from the Haneklau, Rudge, Sommers, and Wessel families.

Most significant to her, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Wessel. They met in Florida on spring break when Judy was 19 and were married for 49 years. During the last 5 years of their marriage, Judy took care of her husband, who succumbed to Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Disease in 2017. They were each other’s one true love. Judy was a registered nurse and had spent her career taking care of patients with terminal illnesses including ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Lupus, and DMD.

Judy is survived by her two children, Rob and Lara Wessel, three grandchildren (Logan, Ryan, and T.J), and a great granddaughter, Ava.

Judy adored her husband, children, and grands. She loved adventure and new experiences, and she and her husband traveled throughout the world. Judy cherished her friends in Cincinnati, where she and Bob raised their children. She loved music, especially Kris Kristofferson and Jimmy Buffett. She enjoyed a good glass of wine, and her favorite places included Hilton Head, Italy, and her beloved Sanibel Island. She and Bob had great affection for dear friends and neighbors in Sun City, South Carolina.

Other than her family and friends, Judy’s greatest passion was literature, and she voraciously read all types of genres throughout her life. She passed her love of reading to her children. In lieu of flowers, please consider buying a book, or visiting a library. Judy believed all people should have access to any writings they chose to read. She was a wonderful wife, mother, Grams, and woman. We will miss her so much, but to quote her favorite artist, “Don’t look so sad, I know it’s over. But life goes on, and this old world will keep on turning. Let’s just be glad, we had some time to spend together...”