Judy Ann Klinger

September 10, 1944 - May 11, 2014

Resident of Cupertino

Judy passed away May 11, 2014, age 69, of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by family and the spirit of love of those who knew her. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, of parents Arnold Lee and Ilo Tesdall Hansen, and was raised lovingly by her family and friends in Marshalltown, Iowa.

She earned a B.S. in child development in 1966 from Iowa State University, working for Project Head Start during one summer. After graduating, she served as a recreational therapist at Iowa Methodist Children's Hospital, a profound learning experience for her in caring for vulnerable young children. She married her husband of 46 years, David, on May 27, 1967, graduation day. They immediately moved from Iowa to California, where she excelled as a preschool teacher for 20 years all while jugging Dave's graduate work and raising young children. The majority of her career was at Bethel Lutheran School in Cupertino where her faith and skill served as an inspiration to both the children and the staff. She was faithful, hopeful, thoughtful, caring, encouraging and brave and a blessing to all those around her.

She was always the first person there, to be by a friend's side when needed, or to take on a challenge before others even realized there was a challenge. She served on the local board of Amigos de las Americas for many years and was a Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commissioner. She was a driving force in preserving school playgrounds as parks and youth sports fields when the Cupertino School District downsized in the 1980s.

Early on, the family lived for two years in Arizona where she developed a passion for fine things Southwest: cactus and succulents, native America jewelry, sheet music and home decorating. She also enjoyed traveling the Southwestern states scaling rock formations in the quest to view ancient rock art.

She traveled widely with her husband and her sister. Her favorite destinations were Capri, Machu Picchu, and Bora Bora in French Polynesia.

Judy's Christian faith was at the foundation of her life. She delighted in Bible studies, singing in the choir and served as a Stephen minister and school board member.
She is survived by her husband; sister Janice Johnson of Mahtomedi, MN; daughters Lynette Ecklund (Lon) of Sammamish, WA, and Leah Nichols (Aaron) of Los Altos, CA; son Steven (Amanda) of Saratoga, CA and six grandchildren: Bryant and Brandon Ecklund, Clara and Evan Nichols, and Laurel and Matthew Klinger.

A memorial service will be held at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in San Jose, May 22 at 1 p.m. Contributions in her honor may be made to Bethel Lutheran School in Cupertino, or St. Timothy's Lutheran School in San Jose.

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on May 18, 2014

- See more at: Judy Ann Klinger's Obituary on San Jose Mercury News