Judy Reinhardt

Judy A. Reinhardt had a spirited approach to her life; an energy that drove her towards happiness no matter what her situation was. She was a loving and caring mother that derived endless joy from watching her family grow and succeed. Judy was a ray of sunshine for those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth.

1944 was historically important for people in the United States and abroad. As Franklin Roosevelt began his second term of presidency, the Battle of the Bulge began as Germans penetrated the Allied front in Belgium. While the war continued to be waged abroad, for the Bigelow family of Stanton, Michigan, life was much simpler. On February 13, 1944, Earl and Bertha (Beaudoin) Bigelow welcomed the birth of their daughter, Judy, born at home.

Growing up, Judy had the best of both worlds wherein she liked being a tomboy, playing football and basketball with the boys, while also playing dress up at Cecil’s house and shopping at the dime store. Some of her favorite gifts as a child were given to her as a reward for stopping her thumb sucking. Music played a big part in Judy’s teenage years, as she was a drum major and played clarinet in the school band. On one memorable trip to Ruskin, Florida, she marched in the band at the State Fair in Tampa. Judy graduated from high school in 1962, and then spent one year at Lansing Community College.

It was during this time that Judy met her future husband, Tom, in Ionia, Michigan. Over the next year, their love for each other blossomed and they were happily married at the First Congregational Church in her hometown. Judy had a fairy tale wedding complete with the beautiful gown and long flowing veil and a church full of friends and family. After saying I do, the newlyweds went to Niagara Falls on their honeymoon, before starting a home in Stanton and a family complete with two children. The couple spent the next 26 years together, raising their children, Cami and Randy, and celebrating many precious events, including their 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. However, the marriage ended in 1989.

Besides being a devoted mother, Judy worked outside the home as an administrative secretary in her family’s business called Reinhardt Technicians and Engineers. Judy was a very detail oriented person so this was the perfect job for her. With her great organizational skills, Judy was able to balance work with fun. While her children were growing up, they took many wonderful family vacations to Ruskin, Florida where Judy and her father would take the kids fishing, shell collecting, netting for oysters and shrimp. She also enjoyed snow skiing around her home in California. Perhaps later playing some cards or shuffleboard together. When at home, Judy treated the family to many delicious meals, including her ham dinners and homemade turkey soup. And for her daughter Cami, she made scrumptious cream puffs for dessert. On those nights when they went out for dinner, Judy liked to go to Applebee’s or anything Chinese and when visiting her son Randy in California, she enjoyed eating at Don’s Wharf in Turlock.

In the comfort of her own home, Judy enjoyed listening to music by her favorite groups of ABBA, Hall & Oates, Oak Ridge Boys, John Denver, and Yanni, while some of her favorite songs included YMCA, Elvira, Thank God I’m a Country Boy, and Jenny from the Block. When not listening to music, she liked watching movies liked Top Gun, Pretty Woman, My Girl and The Princess Diaries. Saturday afternoons in the fall, she could be found in front of the television watching Michigan Football. Her latest pastime was latch hooking and knitting. Of all the wonderful things Judy collected throughout her life, her most cherished possession was the afghan from her mother. Amazingly, Bertha, Judy’s mother, is 94 years old and lives at the Masonic Pathways Senior Home in Alma, Michigan. Sadly, however, she is unable to attend her beloved daughter Judy’s service.

Throughout her life, Judy considered her children and granddaughter, Kelsie, to be her greatest gift and blessing. Although Judy will be deeply missed, her kindness, unconditional love and passion for life endure as an example to all who knew her. One of Judy’s favorite memories was going to California on January 29, 1995 (Super Bowl Sunday) to see her one and only grandchild that was just born.

Judy A. Reinhardt of Holland, MI, died on Thursday, January 13, 2005, at her home. Her family includes her children: Cami (Steve) Bolerjack of Indianapolis, IN, and Randy Reinhardt of Turlock, CA; granddaughter, Kelsie Bolerjack; mother, Bertha Bigelow of Alma; brothers: Paul (Flora) Bigelow of Stanton and Richard (Beverly) Bigelow of Greenville; sister, Gertrude (Glenn) Kraai of Dimondale; and nephews, nieces and cousins.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 17, at the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Avenue, Holland, Michigan, with the Rev. Greg Llerena officiating. No visitation is scheduled. Please visit Judy’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution in her memory.