Julia “Judy” Emma Herson (Peters) died on October 13, 2026, after a short stay at St. Vincent Hospital. She was born April 21, 1931, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Oshkosh, WI. Her parents were Julia Salm and Charles Peters. She lived on a farm in Neenah, WI with her maternal grandparents who both loved to speak German around her as a child.

Judy went to boarding school at St. Mary’s Academy in Prairie du Chien, WI where she made lifelong friends.

At the start of her junior year, she moved to Chicago to live with her mother, Julia. Her Aunt Sally also joined her there. They lived in a three-flat building where it was her job to buy coal to heat the flat overnight at the cost of .25 cents per pail. The flat was small and the three ladies had to sleep in shifts. When Judy’s mother went off to her night shift as a waitress, Judy then could hop into the warm bed that had been recently vacated. She graduated from St. Clemens High School in Chicago. This led to being a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan.

Julia got married on February 14, 1953, to Rodger Herson. She and Rodger met via their mothers in Chicago. It is believed that this shaped their hopes that all their children would have more secure and better lives. Nothing was more important to Julia and Rodger than education for their children. Being raised during the Great Depression, they understood the trials of poverty.

Children rapidly followed after marrying. John, the eldest arrived in January of 1954 and Kathryn in December of 1954, Irish twins. They were rapidly followed by 5 siblings – Michael, Andrew, Patrick, Mary and Thomas. She was blessed with several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Judy was very involved with raising and loving her children, rumor has it, she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren more.

After she became an empty nester, she loved to travel. An epic trip she took was a 3-week pilgrimage to the Holy Land with her dear friend Alice Wohler with whom she had traveled to Europe 50 years earlier. She and Rodger took numerous trips with their grandchildren that she enjoyed and many Elderhostel trips with together.

She was an avid bridge player, an experienced birder and a Norbertine Associate (1989-2015). She was one of the citizens who fought the County Board to keep her local library (Southwest Branch) open and succeeded.

She gave generously to many charities. Her favorite charity was Love Life Ministries. She was one of its founders several decades ago and was very proud of all the young women and babies that were helped. Judy believed strongly in every baby that was ever born. They were each a clean slate with much potential.

Judy was pre-deceased by her husband of 70 years, Rodger and infant son Michael, her son-in-law, Michael Herson-Roeser and daughter-in-law Debra Herson.

She is survived by John Herson, Kathy Herson (Peggy Morsch), Andrew Herson (Kelly Herson), Patrick Herson (Claire Doyle), Mary Herson-Roeser, Thomas Herson. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Please no flowers – In lieu of flowers, donations to Love Life Ministries are greatly appreciated. Feel free to bring any of the following items to the service: Newborn to 6 months - sleepers, onesies, diapers and wipes. Also feel free to show random acts of kindness to others.

Family and friends may call for visitation on Friday, October 23, from 9:00am to 10:45am at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 130 St Matthews St, Green Bay, WI 54301. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin immediately following visitation at 11:00am with Fr. Bob Kabat – Celebrant and Fr. Tim Shillcox – Homilist. Internment in the family plot at the Old Cemetery, Stephenson, MI.

Thank you to everyone that showed kindness to Judy and the Herson family over the years. It is not easy to age, and Judy was very grateful to everyone who cared for her in many ways. A special thank you to the caregivers at St Vincent Hospital and the staff at McCormick Home where Judy lived the past year.

The family would also like to thank Fr. Bob for his support and kindness to Mom and our family.