Judith Margaret Houlihan (Jenz) of Wichita, KS, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Hillview Health Care Center in Lacrosse, WI. Judy was born on March 22, 1940 in Fond Du Lac, WI. She graduated from Ripon High School and Ripon College where she was a charter member of the Ripon College chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. She majored in English. Judy married J. Patrick Houlihan on December 28, 1963 in Ripon. Through the years they lived in New York, California, Michigan and Kansas. Wherever they lived, Judy made friends easily through her interest in golf, music and her teaching career. She loved teaching and taught middle school and high school. She loved and supported her students and we enjoyed her funny stories about her life as a teacher. She was an excellent amateur golfer winning “all city” tournaments and invitationals wherever she lived. She scored her first hole in one at age 12. Judy had a smooth, easily recognizable golf swing.  She was raised in a musical family. The Jenz’s liked to sing and Judy continued singing through her participation in Sweet Adelines. Judy was pretty, witty and smart. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in her 60’s. We have been missing her liveliness, agile athleticism and her great dry wit for some years.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband who died in 2012. She is survived by her son, S. Patrick Houlihan of Grand Rapids, MI, her brothers Tom of Madison and Jim (Laverne) of Hawthorne Woods, IL and Green Lake, WI and her sister-in-law Jane Houlihan of Lacrosse. She is further survived by nieces Jodie (Tom) Sloan of Western Springs, IL, Julie(Steve) Brooks of Ripon, WI and Jon (Laura) Jenz of Tyler, Texas.

The family would like to thank the staff who work on the 700 hub of Hillview Health Care Center where Judy resided for the last 20 months. We are so grateful for the nurses, Lisa and Tracy, and to the nursing assistants, Ann and Jim, Gina and Amber for your respectful, considerate care of our beloved Judy as well as your kindness to the family. To those whose names we do not know but who did their jobs so competently, thank you.

There will be a memorial gathering for Judy in Ripon,WI at a future date.