Judith Urban

Judith Leila Urban completed an extraordinary 88 year life journey on May 23, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 21,1935, the beloved only child of her parents. Her life’s path was forged when they started her with piano lessons at an early age. It soon became apparent she was a musical prodigy. While attending Lincoln High School, she accompanied choirs during their performances and the musical “the Pirates of Penzance.” During this time, she also accepted the position of organist at a local church, a job she would go on to master over the next 57 years. After high school, Judy attended UW-Madison for two years before returning to Wisconsin Rapids. She was working at Siewert Realty when she met Eldon Urban, whom she married in 1960. Shortly after the birth of her son a year later, Judy began teaching piano in her home. Over her 60-plus years as a piano instructor, Judy influenced thousands of young people by imparting her love of music and nurturing their musical talents. As an organist and pianist, Judy spent her life helping families celebrate occasions such as weddings and anniversaries and also helped soothe families at countless memorial services with her glorious gift of music.
As organist and Minister of Music at the First Congregational UCC, she chose and performed all music for the services and accompanied the church choir. She founded the Seasoned Sabbath Singers there, a group that shared their vocal talents by visiting long-term care facilities. She also traveled with the church choir to Germany in 1981, a memory she fondly recited as one of the highlights of her life. While in Germany, she played some of the finest organs in Europe. Judy’s career also included playing recitals, accompanying the Monteverde Master Chorale, adding music to local Rotary meetings and providing entertainment at cocktail parties. She also taught music for a time at Sacred Heart in Nekoosa. Families of her piano students will well remember her biannual public piano recitals during Christmas season and always on Mother’s Day!
In her spare time, Judy was an activist and an avid reader. She enjoyed traveling with family members and friends, gardening and canning, and hosting dinner parties, holiday events, and nights on her deck with friends and neighbors enjoying a glass of boxed wine. She volunteered with the Wood County Democratic party and even hosted the governor’s wife at her house. She helped found the Wisconsin Rapids Citizens for Peace in support of U.S. soldiers in the Middle East, and helped to organize care package deliveries to them. Judy’s home was almost always filled with people and lively conversations.
Judy’s accomplishments were numerous, but she was especially proud to have received the Central Chamber Chorale’s Choral Leadership Award in 2007 and was especially honored to have been awarded her college degree from UWSP years after last attending there, when the two-credit physical education requirement she had been lacking was suddenly and surprisingly waived for her!
Judy is survived by her daughters, Polly Gruetzmacher and Jill Donahue; her grandchildren, Sharlene Gruetzmacher, Dennis (Nicole) Gruetzmacher, Cassidy Donahue and Daniel Donahue. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Eldon Urban; son, Peter Urban; Mother and Father Leila and Ellis Otto; step-mother and friend, Alice Spicer; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Norman and Jean Goodness, Betram and Marge Urban, and Earl and Betty Urban.
Special thanks to the exemplary staff at Edgewater Nursing Home in Port Edwards who helped fill her days there with love and care.
Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Wisconsin Rapids. Pastor Kate West will officiate. Inurnment will be at Forest Hill Mausoleum in Wisconsin Rapids. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Herman Taylor Funeral Home and from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service on Sunday at the church. Feel free to bring a piece to play on the piano or bring your own instrument to play a song in Judy’s memory during the visitation.
In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the family, to establish a musical scholarship in Judy's name.