Judie was born on Feb. 23, 1940 in Baraboo, Wis. to H. Ezra and Gertrude Schaefer. She graduated from Baraboo High School in 1958.
Judie married Thomas Caflisch on Aug. 6, 1960. She attended college at Wisconsin State College in River Falls, Wis. (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, WI on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025 from 11:30 a.m.-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.
