Date of Birth:
Saturday, August 29, 1942
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Age:
79 years old

Judith “Judy” Arndt

Judith (Judy) Arndt, 79, of Rochester, Minnesota, died Thursday December 2, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family; from complications of Lymphoma, Rheumatoid Arthritis and a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Judy was born August 29, 1942 in Winona Minnesota to Alfred and Corrine (Sherbering) Lehnertz. Her family resided on a farm near Rollingstone and she graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1960.  She went on to graduate from St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing in Rochester and worked at St. Mary’s  until 1968 and then at Olmsted County Health Department.   She met her future husband, Dale Arndt on New Year’s Eve in 1965; they were married in July of 1967.  Judy stayed at home and raised their family of five children and was involved in their many activities.  In 1986 she and her husband opened the first Packaging Store in Rochester on 7^th Street NW; custom packaging and shipping items of all weights and sizes to all parts of the world.  Her husband continued this business while in 1988 Judy returned to the nursing that she loved to do first at Woodside Nursing Home and later at the Health Center for Nuns at Assisi Heights, retiring in 2016.

When Judy was not working she enjoyed the outdoors, going for walks and riding in the convertible and was involved in gardening, and for years planted many hanging pots every spring in addition to caring for other flowers and a vegetable garden.  She loved to travel in the motorhome to all parts of the country, especially the National Parks and to lakes in northern Minnesota while the children were growing up.  Judy loved boating and being on the water; water skiing, fishing or just riding around.   There were many winter trips to Northern Wisconsin to ride the snowmobile trails.  More recently she was able to tour parts of Europe.  The highlight of one of her tours was to visit the Vatican, being up close to Pope Francis and to see the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi Italy.  She enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow up; always waiting for that next picture or note of accomplishment.  Christmas was one of her favorite seasons.   No matter how busy she was she found time to put up her manger scene, many nutcracker soldiers, and made sure that the tree decorations were different every year with the proper angel at the top.

Judy is survived by her husband Dale, her daughter Jennifer (Rick) Grassi of Santa Clarita, CA; and Sons Michael (Rachael) of Chisago City, MN; Kurtis of Burnsville, MN and Richard and Greg both of Rochester, MN; grandchildren Madelaine and Max Grassi and Noah and Lucia Arndt; two brothers; James (Linda) Lehnertz of Altura, MN and Jerry (Jan) Lehnertz of River Falls, WI; and two sisters; Mary Lehnertz (Kevin Iungerman) of Minneapolis, MN and Joan (Arnie) Andreesen of Anamosa, IA;  brother-in-law Richard Patzner of St. Charles, MN; and many nieces and nephews and their families.  She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Jean Patzner of St. Charles, MN.

The funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood East Cemetery in Rochester.

The family is thankful that Judy lived out her wish to be cared for at home during her entire illness by her husband and sons Richard and Greg; and is especially grateful to all of the assistance and care provided by Mayo Clinic Hospice during her last days.

Memorials are preferred to the Mayo Clinic or any organization researching a cure for Parkinson’s Disease