Judy Emily Woltjen

Judy Emily Woltjen was born on May 18, 1939, in St Louis, Mo., and passed on June 1, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. After graduating from Ferguson High School in Missouri, Judy attended nursing school and worked as a registered nurse for over 40 years. In 1957, she met a young second lieutenant in the Army that recently graduated from engineering school named Duane Woltjen. They started their journey together of deep love and adventure which included cave exploring, whitewater racing, canoeing, hiking, trail construction and conservation activism. Judy and Duane were one week away from celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary upon her passing. In 1969, as a young mother, Judy testified at a United States Senate hearing on clean air. Her testimony was part of a movement that led to the landmark legislation now known as the Clean Air Act of 1970. This was just the beginning of Judy dedicating much of her life to conservation and preserving nature for all to enjoy. She lived a remarkable and exemplary life of faith, love, hiking, canoeing, and dedication to conservation. Judy, along with her husband and countless others, worked on preserving the rivers of Missouri and Arkansas. They also led the effort to construct a 32-mile addition to the Ozark Highlands Trail. She lived life to the fullest, impacting many with her passion for conservation and astute nursing skills. Judy and Duane have two grown children, Mark and Brett, along with two lovely daughters-in-law, Lynne and Debbie. Judy was a proud grandmother of five and recently celebrated the newest addition to the family, a great-grandson. A memorial reception will be held in her memory at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville (4703 N Crossover Rd) at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022. Cremation arrangements by Beard's Funeral Chapel. Condolences at www.beardsfuneralchapel.com