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Judith Elaine Caflisch
Judie was born on 2/23/1940 in Baraboo, Wisconsin to H. Ezra and Gertrude Schaefer. She graduated from Baraboo High School in 1958.
Judie married Thomas Caflisch on August 6, 1960. She attended college at Wisconsin State College in River Falls, Wisconsin (now UWRF). She graduated in 1966 with a B.S. degree and in 1990 with a master’s degree. She retired from working at UWRF in 1999.
After retirement, Judie and Tom enjoyed many travels together. Judie especially enjoyed their family’s annual “motel weekend” and holiday celebrations.
Judie served two terms on the River Falls School Board of Education. She served as a member on the River Falls Auxiliary Board, the City of River Falls Library Board, and numerous church committees at Ezekiel Lutheran Church. Judie was a present member of Luther Memorial Church in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Judie is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Tom of 63 years. She is survived by her children: Jill (Pete) McCarthy, Jodie (Mike) Vanderzanden, and Andrew (Shannon) Caflisch. She has eight grandchildren: Chad (Courtney), Joshua (Sammy), Samuel Henning, Jaime (Nate) Kleppe, Jordan Lammer, Jenna (Jake) Knotek, Trevor Caflisch, and Natalie Caflisch, and two bonus grandchildren, Sarah (Will) Anderson, Alex (Sarah) McCarthy. Judie also has four great-grandchildren, Cohen and Noah Kleppe, Adalaigh and Baby Knotek (due 1/2026). She also has three bonus great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Norah, and Isla Feuchtenberger. Judie has one brother, John (Kathy) Schaefer, plus many other family and friends.
A Celebration Open House will take place at Bakken-Young Funeral Home, 805 E. Division Street, River Falls, Wisconsin on Monday, August 18, 2025 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. A private burial will take place prior to the Celebration Open House.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Animal Ark, Luther Memorial Church, or the Smile Train.
3 Comments
We will miss her at kinnic.it was our pleasure to care for her.shes happy now.
Caflischs were lovely neighbors on Roosevelt Court. Tom and Judie had large personalities and always took time for a chat. Tim will be happy to see Judie.
I’m pretty sure I inherited my passion for dogs from Judie. I don’t believe in coincidences, so when I received the text from Jodie that Judie had crossed the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ into Christ’s arms, to be joyfully greeted by Tom and mobbed by all the pups she’d loved, at the exact moment I was placing Sheldon, my 5th blind rescue, into my truck for his ride to his forever home, I could only believe it was a timely, confirmation message from Judie that I was doing the right thing. Maybe it’s just a story, but I’m pretty sure it would make Judie smile.
You were more than a cousin, the sister I never had. I love you so much and will miss you terribly. I am so happy for you that you’re home. And I’m so grateful to have your wonderful kids in my life. They are such a gift.
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