Judith A. Loomis

Judith “Judy” Loomis, age 86, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, following complications from influenza. Her passing came after a courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Music was at the center of Judy’s life from an early age. While attending Central High School, she sang in both the Jazz/Swing Choir and the Robed Choir and played the violin. Alongside music, Judy was very interested in painting and sketching. She worked with oil pastels and acrylics as a medium to create beautiful artwork. She could sketch just about anything, including furniture and home designs.

Earlier in life, while married to Richard Loomis, Judy traveled widely as a Navy spouse, living in Tennessee, California, Washington, and Maryland while Richard was stationed overseas. Even with limited means, she provided for her family with remarkable creativity and resilience.

Judy was an active and cherished member of the Oktoberfest community. As the partner of Max Kotmer, the 2004 Oktoberfest Parade Marshal, she became part of the Oktoberfest Royal Family and participated in official events and parades throughout the region, including Applefest, Irishfest, and Winterfest in Minneapolis.

With Max, Judy also traveled extensively during the summers as an escort for Jay Buckley Baseball Tours. From the late 1980s through the early 2000s, she helped manage logistics for tour groups traveling across the country—and in doing so, visited every Major League Baseball stadium and city in the United States. In the 1980s, she even learned how to downhill ski while in her 40s. She also became a fairly decent golfer.

Judy dedicated 42 years of service to WKBT-TV (Channel 8), the local CBS affiliate in La Crosse. She worked in many roles, including accounting, bookkeeping, and traffic, eventually serving as Assistant Traffic Manager before retiring around 2010. Earlier in her career, she was also fondly remembered as the station’s live TV Bingo caller in the 1960s—a role she always took pride in. After retiring from Channel 8, Judy continued working with the same enthusiasm she brought to everything she did, including roles at Festival Foods and Walmart in La Crosse.

For more than 20 years, Judy sang with the Choral Union at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. Most recently, she was a proud member of the Giving Hearts Choir, an Alzheimer’s choir that held special meaning for her and her family.

Judy was deeply involved with the La Crosse Community Theatre, performing in numerous productions over several decades. Her first show was HMS Pinafore in 1983, followed by productions such as The Pirates of Penzance. Her final production was MAME in 2007, where she was delighted to receive her very first speaking line after years of singing and dancing in the chorus. She also performed for many years in fundraising productions for Lutheran Hospital (later Gundersen Health System), including Pills A Poppin and the Rhythms shows from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, helping raise vital funds for medical care in the community.

Judy was a true supporter of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and the La Crosse Community Theatre, holding season tickets and rarely missing a performance. She also faithfully attended Oktoberfest, Riverfest, and JazzFest each year.

Judy was famously handy and endlessly giving. As a single mother raising Ryan and Craig, she could fix a water heater, sew clothing, alter wedding dresses, and help anyone in need—always without asking for payment. She simply loved helping people.

She was a devoted mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, partner, and friend. She was widely known in the La Crosse community for her warmth, generosity, tireless work ethic, and lifelong love of music, dance, and performance. She was also very active at North Presbyterian Church in La Crosse until her health no longer allowed it.

Judy is survived by her children, Julie Dahl (husband Perry), Ryan Loomis, and Craig Loomis; her sister, Patricia “Pat” Mathison (husband Tom); along with many beloved grandchildren, Jennifer (husband Jason), Dustin (wife Kimberly), Marcus, Michael (wife Gina), Mackenzie (husband Kennedy) and William; her great-grandchildren, Logan, Kerragan, Harrison, Eleanor, Elliana and Emmitt; and many nieces and nephews.

Judy will be cremated, and private family services will take place. A graveside service is scheduled for 11:00 AM on May 30, 2026, at Mormon Coulee Memorial Park in La Crosse for those wanting to attend.

In keeping with Judy’s love of music, dance, and performance, her family is planning a community celebration of life concert, welcoming all who had the privilege of knowing Judy, as well as anyone who shares her enthusiasm for music and dance. This joyful event will honor Judy’s spirit with live music, singing, and dancing—just as she would have wanted.

The celebration is going to take place on May 30, 2026, from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, at the La Crosse Moose Lodge, a place where Judy spent many happy evenings singing karaoke and enjoying time with friends. Performances are expected to include the Greg Belfany Quartet and a DJ from Midwest Entertainment, followed by dancing and music celebrating Judy’s favorite eras.

Even those who did not know Judy personally are warmly invited to attend and enjoy an afternoon and evening of music, community, and celebration in her honor.