Top Banner for Judith A. Bablitch Obituary
Judith A. Bablitch Obituary

Brought to you by Boston Funeral Home

Judith A. Bablitch

Stevens Point, WI

November 14, 1940 - November 27, 2022

Judith A. Bablitch Obituary

Judith A. Bablitch, age 82, died on Sunday, Nov 27, 2022 at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital.


She was born November 14, 1940 to the late Wilbur and Catherine (Slater) Johnson in Elkhorn, WI. Judy grew up in Williams Bay, WI, attended the local schools and graduated from Beloit College. She continued her education at the University of Illinois Chicago and earned a Master's Degree in Social Work. Upon finishing her schooling, Judy spent several years in England employed as a psychiatric social worker. It would be the first in a long line of endeavors that marked a life dedicated to helping others.


Returning stateside, Judy relocated to Janesville, WI to continue a career in service to the disadvantaged. There, her skills as a decisive and able administrator led the Rock County Board to urge her to apply for the position of Director of Social Services. At the time of her appointment, the local newspaper editorial staff noted this about Judy: "Her compassion for human beings, coupled with an understanding of the need for balancing their problems against financial realities, make her increasingly popular with the entire Board." While living in southern Wisconsin, she met and married James M. Bablitch. Together, the couple soon joined the Peace Corps and lived in Botswana, Africa for two years where they focused on human rights and justice reform. Subsequently, they came back to the United States and settled in Stevens Point, WI which they called home for the next 50 years.


Judy was always an active community member and leader. She capped a noteworthy career in her field by serving 25 years as the Director of the Portage County Health and Human Services. She was one of the first women to hold such a position in Wisconsin. Throughout her life, Judy volunteered her time to numerous social causes including Community Friends, Saint Vincent de Paul, church youth programs, Operation Bootstrap and the League of Women Voters. She also shared her knowledge with the next generation of social workers by teaching at UW-Stevens Point. In 2006 and upon her retirement, Governor Jim Doyle noted that Judy was seen as "a jewel" by her colleagues and, "for her steadfast work to improve the quality of life for families in the community and to help lift them out of poverty."


On the home-front, Judy was an avid reader, a wonderful hostess and a friend to any and all who needed one. Over the years, she and her husband welcomed numerous students into their lives through semester-abroad and urban youth programs. In the end, Judy will be remembered most for her generous, kind and compassionate nature. Her life ambition was to "help build a better world." Her activism, outreach and hard work truly reflected this goal. Indeed, she made a difference.


Judy is survived by her sister, Julie (Phil) Johnson; numerous near and dear nieces and nephews who knew her as a warm and welcome cheerleader at their many games, performances, graduations, marriages and more; and her extended family of in-laws: Phil, Liza and Joe, Bob and Linda, Mike and Jean, Mary and Bob and Heidi and John.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Attorney James Bablitch, parents Wilbur and Catherine Johnson and her father and mother-in-law, Robert and Ruth Bablitch.


All who knew Judy are invited to A Life Tribute Celebration on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Stevens Point, WI. Visitation and Refreshment will follow the service from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A private family interment will take place in St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery.


Memorials contributions may be made to the Portage County Humane Society, Portage County Youth Baseball, the Williams Bay Public Library, or the Williams Bay United Church of Christ.


To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Judith A. Bablitch hosted by Boston Funeral Home.

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Judith A. Bablitch.