Judy Thierolf, 84, Beloit
Judith Anne Lesch Thierolf
BELOIT – Judith Anne Lesch Thierolf, daughter of Joseph and Mary Axline Lesch, was born April 26, 1939, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She passed away after a brief illness on January 19, 2024 at the Residential Care Center in Beloit, Kansas.
Judy was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas and loved growing up in the shadow of the University of Kansas. A very proud Chesty Lion and 1957 graduate of Lawrence High School, she enrolled at KU where she had met her future husband, Judd. They married, moved to Beloit, had three children and started their life together as a family.
Early in her marriage, Judy chose to stay home, utilizing a wonderful network of friends and neighbors to help raise and nurture her children. As her kids grew, Judy began a hobby that turned into a business. She utilized her artistic skills and began to produce wall hangings made of yarn depicting Jayhawks and Trojans as well as every other team mascot in the sporting world. Over 1400 of these hangings were produced by her through the years.
As her children grew into adulthood, Judy went to work, first for good friend and neighbor, Harry Gantenbein, as a legal secretary, and then as a school secretary at Beloit Junior/Senior High School. She loved being at school, helping the teachers and students navigate the school year. Judy Jayhawk loved seeing and talking to every student every day, cherishing her years at the school.
Judy loved being a mom and loved even more being a grandmother and greatgrandmother. When she and Judd went to a game they were usually the first fans in the stands. For years they met the KU football team upon arrival at the stadium with Judy telling each individual player, all one hundred by name, good luck and to play well.
As her grandchildren grew, nothing made her happier than to go to the games and cheer the team on. Thousands of miles and hundreds of hours were spent enjoying her kids’ activities and they will miss seeing her in the stands.
Left to mourn her passing are her daughters Tami (Dan) Pruitt, Kerry (Greg) Rozman, her son Grant (Deanna) Thierolf; her seven grandchildren, Nicole (Chris) McArthur, Brad Pruitt, Jeff (Tara) Pruitt, Matt (Megan) Thierolf, Connor (Ivory) Thierolf, Kaelyn Thierolf, and Joe (Leah) Studer; her greatgrandchildren Gunner, Hartley, Rielynn, Judd, Boone, and Bo Pruitt, Owen and Harper McLain and Cody McArthur, Caine Pruitt, and Remi and Alex Marie Studer; her sister Barbara Butell, and her sister-in-law Jane Wallace, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Judy was preceded in death by her husband Judd, her parents Joe and Mary Lesch, her grandson Alex Edward Studer, her brotherin- law Don Wallace, and her brother-in-law James Butell.
Funeral services will be at 10 AM Wednesday, January 24 at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Beloit. A rosary service will be at 7 PM & visitation will be from 2-7 PM Tuesday at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be be given to St. John’s Catholic Church, Solomon Valley Hospice, or Resident Care Center. Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com