Longtime former River Falls Journal Editor Judy Wiff unexpectedly passed away on Jan. 6 at her home while sleeping in bed. She was 75 years old.

Friends said Wiff always referred to Harshaw, Wis., as her hometown, where she was editor of her high school newspaper and the oldest of 12 children to Thomas and Dorothy Herman. Wiff graduated from high school in 1967 and went to UW-River Falls, where she was also editor of UW-River Falls’ Student Voice newspaper.

Wiff’s was hired by the Prescott Journal in 1974, and soon after, was hired by then River Falls Journal owner George Kramer, according to former RiverTown Publisher Steve Dzubay. After Jay Griggs and Arlin Albrecht bought the River Falls Journal in 1984, they purchased the other newspapers in Hudson and New Richmond. Wiff became the Regional Editor of both Pierce and St. Croix County regions for over a decade. 

Dzubay first met Wiff when his duties shifted from the Pierce County Herald to the River Falls Journal in 1988.

“Judy could sometimes be uncomfortably direct, especially to an unsecure, cub editor who suddenly found himself in charge of more experienced new people. My respect for her thorough, thoughtful, unsensational reporting only grew through the years,” he said.

In journalism jargon, Dzubay’s “unsensational” description is referring to more in the style of “Walter Cronkite just the facts” reporting. It means unsensational, as in not over-dramatized or the opposite of what internet “click bait” journalism is in today’s reporting.

“She (Wiff) smoothly adapted from typewriters and darkrooms to desktops, laptops, and web-publishing more swiftly than many of us,” said Dzubay. “Judy helped chronicle nearly 40 years of history in River Falls and the greater Pierce County region. I hope people will remember her fondly and appreciate her dedication to truth.”

Wiff’s other passion was volunteering in her community, especially with her church, Spirit of Grace United Methodist Church. Retired pastor Janet Ellinger and Wiff were at church helping each other with a project when Ellinger told Wiff she had recently shot two turkeys with just one shot.

“Judy said, ‘That’s unbelievable. We should do a little article on that.’ I said, oooh, that’d be fun.”

The fun little article was in the next week’s paper and Pastor Ellinger said she subsequently received a call from the D.N.R.

“The D.N.R. Warden said it was illegal to take two birds with one shot,” Ellinger said with a chuckle.

Pastor Ellinger was required to pay a fine.

“Judy was always so upbeat and so gracious,” said Ellinger. “As a pastor, if you could have a congregation of Judy Wiffs, that would be the ultimate. She will be greatly missed in the church and in the community.”

Don Stannard is now 89 years old and first met Wiff in 1982. Stannard was the pastor at Spirit of Grace United Methodist for 16 years.

“I always found her to be on the quiet side,” said Stannard. “But she ran deep.

“She filled so many volunteer roles at our church and she was so perceptive. She wrote stories on such a variety of subjects and I never missed reading any of her articles. She was an important part of the newspaper and she and her husband, Roger, were an important part of our church. Judy and Roger made a really good team.”

Wiff began volunteering with Turningpoint For Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence in 1992. She was the board president for 14 years and served on the board for over 20 years. Current Turningpoint Executive Director Alena Taylor worked for many years with Wiff.

“She (Wiff) was so kind and committed to supporting those in need in River Falls. She made a mark in our community in many ways and I feel privileged to have gotten to work alongside her in our common mission to build a strong and safe community,” Taylor said.

Dzubay shared that Wiff also served as president of the non-profit River Falls Sharing Families holiday gift program for more than 35 years, stepping down in February 2024. After retirement, she served several months as interim town clerk for Martell Township.

Memorial services for Judy Wiff will be held at Spirit of Grace United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Visitations will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 and again on Saturday before the funeral service beginning at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family will donate any memorials to Wiff’s favorite charities.