Judith Burlage

Judith Ann Burlage (Root, Peppler) peacefully joined her heavenly Father on October 30, 2025. Born to Harold and Marguerite Root, of Wyoming, Michigan, on January 18, 1952, Judith was a kind, compassionate soul, a talented artist, who enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Judith attended Rogers High School. After marrying Walter, she resided in Plainfield Township, before relocating to Coral Springs, FL. While raising her children in South Florida, she advocated for women's and voters rights as a proud member of the League of Women Voters of Broward County. Judith had a profound passion for democracy. She earned her nursing degree from Lake City Community College and practiced asa RN at Lake City Medical Center for many years. Throughout the years, she and Walter were parishioners at Fountain Street Church, St Mary Magdalene Church (Coral Springs) and St. James Episcopal Church (Lake City). In 2019, she relocated to Grand Rapids, where she enjoyed watching her granddaughter play lacrosse at Davenport University, quilting, painting, traveling, and spending time with her family, most notably her sister Dawn, niece Christina, and grand-nephew, Oliver.

She will be lovingly remembered for her generous, joyful, and gentle nature. Judith is preceded in death by her husband, Walter. She is survived by her children Bart (Denise) Peppler of Elkridge, MD, Alison Burlage of Nashville, TN, Graham (Ashley) Burlage of Cadillac, MI, Meredith (Joshua) Blakely of Jacksonville, FL, her stepson, Jay (Caron) Burlage of Ann Arbor, MI, her granddaughters, Ashley Wilson, Lauren Schwarz and Addison Blakely. She is also survived by her siblings Gail (Tom) DeBoer of Ocala, FL, Dawn (Mark) Stinson of Wyoming, and Brian (Jodie) Root of Byron Center.

Her family will celebrate her life on April 25, 2026, when her remains, along with those of her husband, Walter, will be laid in their final resting place at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, 2894 Patterson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Americans for the Arts Action Fund or League of Women Voters of Grand Rapids.