She fought the difficult disease of Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis with grace for almost 9 years before becoming critically ill on October 29, 2024. Judy spent her last weeks at Munson Medical Center reminiscing with family and many visitors—a tender and joyful experience that allowed for a very special level of preparedness for her passing.

Judy was born on January 26, 1951, to Virginia Mae Woodtle Weckwert and Reverend Karl Weckwert in York, Pennsylvania. Their family moved to Leland, Michigan in 1964 for her father’s ministry. She graduated from Leland Public School in 1968 before attending Valparaiso University to study education, later receiving her master’s degree in education from Michigan State University. She married Robert Arden Biggs on November 28, 1975, and they had two children, Jennifer Woodtle Biggs and Anna Mummert Biggs. They divorced in 1991 but remained dedicated partners in raising their two girls. In 2002, she married Stanley Robert Bachmeyer. They divorced in 2010 but remained close friends.

She worked as an elementary teacher and reading specialist at Glen Lake Public School for 27 years. She was very proud to have taught over 1000 students to read during her tenure at Glen Lake, which is a huge part of the legacy she leaves behind. After moving to Colorado in 2010, she taught at the Lookout Mountain Boys Detention Prison in Golden, Colorado before officially retiring in 2011. Sharing her love of teaching, sunshine, photography, traveling and music were just a few of the ways she spread joy to everyone around her. She was known for optimism, confidence, artistic vision and promotion of individuality. Just the mention of Judy’s name brought a smile to the faces of her community, and her loss will be felt deeply by those that knew her.

Judy survived by her daughters Jennifer Woodtle Biggs (Charles Holt), Anna Biggs Hogan (Matthew Hogan), her grandson Davis Redding Hogan, her sister Karla Marie Weckwert, sister Heidi Ellen Weckwert (Maude Babington), and brother Andre Mark Weckwert (Margot Weckwert). She was preceded in death by her parents Virginia Mae Woodtle Weckwert, Reverend Karl Weckwert, and her brother Eric Brent Weckwert.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Memorials or donations may be made by planting a tree via the A Tree to Remember Website or to the Leland Library.

Carpe Diem.