Judy Wahl

PETERSBURG - Judy Ann Wahl, 83, of Petersburg passed away peacefully March 10, 2025.  

Judy was born Sept. 20, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Marvin and Cordelia (nee Bennick) Kalleward.  

She married her beloved, James, on Nov. 23, 1977. Judy worked for many years alongside her late husband at his dental practice of Murray, Sampson, & Wahl, DDS in Champaign. Upon her retirement, she moved to Pentwater, Mich., where she lived for several years and enjoyed sailing with her late husband and entertaining family and friends.

Disney soon started pulling at her heart strings, and she and Jim moved to Florida, where they worked as full-time cast members for four years.  She continued as a seasonal cast member for a couple more years after they moved back to Illinois in 2003. Judy had a heart of gold and showed that time and time again by volunteering at Burnham Hospital in Champaign, as well as the time she spent supporting her husband with community services in Champaign and Pentwater.  

Judy loved to travel and enjoyed skiing in Colorado, riding the many rides at Disney World and taking cruises with her family. She loved quilting and cooking in her spare time, but she loved nothing more than raising and spending time with her family and watching her grandchildren grow. She would often be the loudest person in the crowd, cheering her grandchildren on during their many performances and achievements. Words could never express how proud of them she was.  

Judy is survived by her children, Julie (Gary) Sullivan of Springfield, Steven (Christine) Triezenberg of Indianapolis and Jill (Thomas) Kress of Plainfield; stepchildren, Kathy Wahl of Urbana, Karen (Steve) Ard of Champaign and Timothy Wahl of Portageville, Mo.; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and her brother, James (Beth) Kalleward of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, James F. Wahl; her parents, Marvin and Cordelia Kalleward; and her brothers, John Kalleward and Gary (Linda) Kalleward.

A private graveside service will be held during the summer of 2025 at Camp Butler National Cemetery, 5063 Camp Butler Road, Springfield, IL 62707.

Cremation rites have been accorded by Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg.