BROOKLYN - Judy Kay Kersten, age 72, of Brooklyn, Wis., passed away surrounded by her family on May 31, 2025, at UW Hospital in Madison, Wis., after a battle with cancer.

Born Judy Kay Wilson on April 5, 1953, in Irving, Texas, she was the daughter of Elois and George Wilson. She graduated from Janesville Craig High School in 1972, where she enjoyed being involved in the mixed choir. On December 15, 1973, she married Lester Kersten at First Presbyterian Church in Janesville, Wis.

Judy was a good transplant from the city to the farm. She enjoyed the country life and farming alongside her family for 51 years. While raising their boys, she worked on the farm milking cows, haying and being in the tobacco fields. Over the years, they earned several awards from AMPI for the excellent quality of milk they produced. She also drove school bus for the Oregon School District for over 25 years where she enjoyed watching each child grow up that was on her route.

Judy enjoyed several activities throughout her life. They include crocheting, crafts, gardening, flowers, being a Sunday school teacher, a 4-H leader for the Oregon Headliners club, her dogs, going for rides to anywhere and getting together with her brothers and sisters-in-law. Judy loved her family. Watching her boys grow and create their own families gave her so much joy.

Those who knew her will remember her as always being there for her family and friends, having a great work ethic, and her no-nonsense approach to everything. She will be dearly missed.

Judy is survived by her husband of 51 years, Lester; children, Christopher (Diana) Kersten, of Reedsburg, Wis., and Michael (Jennifer) Kersten of Brooklyn, Wis.; grandchildren, Gracelynn, Ethan and Hallie Kersten, and Aubrey, Sydney (Nathan Simon) and Gage Schlicht; great-grandson, Frankie Simon; brothers-in-law, Richard Kersten and Gerald (Kathy) Kersten; a niece and several nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Vern and Margaret Kersten; and sister-in-law, Lauri Kersten.

A memorial service will be held at BROOKLYN LUTHERAN CHURCH, 101 Second St., Brooklyn, at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025. A visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

The family would like to thank Dr. Nataliya Uboha and the team for the care and compassion shown to Judy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The UW Carbone Cancer Center Greatest Need Fund - University of Wisconsin Foundation; US Bank Lockbox Box 78807; Milwaukee, WI 53278-8807 (www.supportuw.org/how-to-give/).

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon

Funeral & Cremation Care

1150 Park St.

(608) 835-3515

Judy Kay Kersten

April 05, 1953 - May 31, 2025

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