9/26/1937 – 2/23/2026
Lawrence
Judith Ellen Wulfkuhle (Judy) gently passed on to her heavenly home on Monday, February 23, 2026.
She was born on September 26, 1937, to Harold and Carrie Ericson in Lawrence. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1954 and attended secretarial school in Topeka, which served her well throughout her life and career. Judy married Homer Wulfkuhle on September 23, 1956, in Lawrence, KS. She and Homer farmed and ranched in the Stull community after their marriage and until Homer’s passing in 1998, when Judy opted to build a house just down the road from the ranch.
Judy attended the Stull Community of Faith Church, where she was active in many ministries. She was a Stull Busy Beavers 4-H club community leader/volunteer and served on the Douglas County Fair Board. She was active in Kansas Young Farmers and a Douglas County Extension Homemaker Unit. Judy spent her later years at Pioneer Ridge Independent Living and Cedarhurst of Lawrence, where she took joy in the company of the many friends she made, especially her dear friend Elsa, the resident bus outings, and weekly Bingo games. Throughout her life, Judy enjoyed watching, listening to, and cheering on the K-State Wildcats. She had a deep love for reading, spending much of her free time listening to library books on tape.
Judy was extremely proud of her family, who survive her: daughter, Gayle Vannicola (Phillip) of Lecompton; daughter, Lisa Pearson (Clint) of Scott City, KS; son, Mark Wulfkuhle (Brenna) of Lawrence; son, Brian Wulfkuhle (Karen) of Purdon, TX; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Mary Dill (John) of Kansas City.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 21st at 10:30 am at Stull Community of Faith Church, 1596 E 250 Rd, Lecompton. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service and a private burial service at a later time.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Cedarhurst of Lawrence, Interim Hospice (especially Dylan, Marilyn, Val, and Teresa), and her granddaughter Kelsey for their care, love, and compassion given to Judy.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Stull Community of Faith Community Cupboard or to the Douglas County 4-H Foundation – Homer and Judy Wulfkuhle Scholarship Fund, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
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