Judith Carol (Judy) Winkler

Judith Carol Winkler, 78, of Bismarck, IL, went to be with her Savior on Sunday, May 12, 2024, passing at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria after a long battle with leukemia.
Judy was born on September 1, 1945, in Danville, Illinois, to George Kenneth and Lois Margaret Roderick. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald D. Winkler on December 2, 1967, at First Baptist Church in Danville.

Surviving are her husband, Ron of Bismarck; her children, Natalie (Jeff) Weller of Geneseo, Travis (Nicole) Winkler of Danville and Heather (Mike) Meidel of Danville and eight grandchildren: Elli, Maggi and Adam Weller, Madison (Blake) Wagner, Tristen and Griffin Winkler; Emily and Brett Meidel and one great grandchild, Josie Wagner. Also surviving are one sister, Anita (Martin) Kaiser of Riverwoods, IL and two brothers: Byron (Rita) Roderick of Broomfield, CO and Terry (Derhonda) Roderick of Lakewood Ranch, FL.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Ron Roderick, George Roderick and Mary Jo (Roderick) Polasek.

Judy was a 1966 graduate of Lakeview School of Nursing, where she received her diploma as a Registered Nurse. She was an ER nurse at Lakeview Medical Center, and she was instrumental in starting a cardiac unit at Paxton Hospital. She worked in family planning at Vermilion County Health Department for a short time and then spent many years in Home Healthcare nursing, in which she cared for her patients with such love and compassion. She would often take flowers, baked goods or personal items to them. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, and she was a blessing to everyone she knew; she would write notes of encouragement and send cards to those in need in an attempt to brighten their day. She loved gardening and enjoyed the beauty of flowers that were strategically planted all over her farmhouse homestead. She also enjoyed cooking for others while singing along to her favorite Christian radio station. She loved her family and always challenged each one of them to “go out and be a blessing”. Her most treasured time was just being with family and faithfully attending her grandchildren’s activities. Her positive outlook on life radiated like sunshine when she walked into a room because she was always smiling, even on her darkest days. She will be remembered as a faithful servant, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 28th at First Baptist Church in Danville, IL. Visitation will precede the funeral from 10:00 - Noon at First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bismarck Blessings or First Baptist Church. Rortvedt Crematory has been entrusted with her cremation.

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