Judith Ann Elson

Judith Elson, 79, of Beloit, WI passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Beloit Memorial Hospital. She was born on May 15, 1946, in Akron, NY, the daughter of Carl and Isabelle (Rosenberg) Bero.
Judith was a 1964 graduate of Akron Central High School, and then a graduate of Bryant and Stratton business college in Buffalo, NY.
She married Virgil Elson on August 8, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Beloit, WI where she had been a member her entire adult life. Virgil just predeceased her on March 28, 2025.
They shared so many happy years together including going to their summer place in Green Lake, WI. They were often spotted there driving around in their GEM golf cart or their 1929 Mercedes Benz Roadster.
They also enjoyed boating on Green Lake and took any opportunity to take others for a ride to share with them how special Green Lake was to them.
When Virgil proposed, they were on Green Lake in their boat with Judson Tower and the lit cross right there. They accepted that God meant for them to be together. There is a story about how Virgil and Judy met on an airplane. It was completely meant to be that they were seated by each other on a trip from Rockford, IL to Mesa, AZ. There was no mistaking that God brought them together after experiencing prior losses.
When they met, there was Virgil living in Dekalb, IL and Judith in Beloit, WI. They began a long-distance friendship with many long phone calls over the next several months and eventually, the romance blossomed and they both found a new life, definitely with God's blessing.
Before retirement, Judith had worked for the City of Beloit, first at the Beloit Public Library, and then as a Deputy City Clerk at Beloit's City Hall. In all, she worked there for 39 years until her retirement in 2016.
As a member of First Baptist Church, she most recently served on the Endowment Committee and for Church Staff Relations. She had many other roles throughout the years including diaconate, serving communion and ushering to name a few. She firmly believed that God did so much for her and her family, she had to serve and give back to Him with so much praise.
Survivors include her daughter Jodi Gile (Thomas VanMatre) of Monroe, WI; brother Thomas (Susan Bero) of Erie, PA; sister Susan (Francis) Hanson of Monmouth, IL; and their beloved fur baby, Diana. Judith was predeceased by her parents.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at First Baptist Church, 617 Public Ave., Beloit, WI with Pastor Walt Hoshaw officiating. A Visitation of Remembrance will start at 10:00 a.m. with the Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send any memorials your heart leads you to send to First Baptist Church in Beloit – Foundation Committee, and either the Rock County or Green County Humane Societies. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Judith Ann Elson, please visit our Tree Store.