A memorial service for Judy Koland of Morris, Minn., will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, with Reverend Emmy Swedlund officiating. Visitation will begin at noon until the time of service at the funeral home. Entombment will be at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Christiansburg at a later date.
Mary Judith ‘Judy’ Templeman was born July 8, 1935 to Milo William and Marion Julia (Galpin) Templeman in Muscatine, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal faith. Judy attended Muscatine Grade School and graduated in 1953 from the Muscatine High School. She went on to the University of Iowa where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Music. She married Clyde Johnson and they had four children.
In earlier years, Judy was busy raising four boys, much of it on her own. Once the four boys were safely in school, Judy started her professional career. She spent several years as an elementary music teacher, worked as an optometric assistant and served as news director at the local radio station for several years. She also served a term as a city council member in Morris. After leaving Morris, she continued her education in Special Education and worked many years as a special ed paraprofessional.
On July 31, 1981, Judy and Lennerd ‘Laddie’ Koland were united in marriage at the Isanti County Court House in Cambridge, Minn. She welcomed Laddie’s children, and eventually their children into her life. Judy was an active member of the Episcopal Church. Her faith was very important to her and passed that down through the generations. She was a current member of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Christiansburg.
Judy loved to golf; while in Morris, she was a member of the Pomme de Terre Golf Course and enjoyed playing on summer days with her group of friends on Ladies’ Day. Wherever she and Laddie moved to, they found a course to play on, and were especially fond of The Hill course in Christiansburg.
She was a huge opera fan, listening to the Metropolitan Opera every available Saturday afternoon. She left this world with opera playing in her room and her family by her side.
Judy died Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at The Legacy in Morris, Minn. She was 88 years old.
Judy is survived by her husband, Laddie Koland; her sons Jeff (Anne) Johnson, Joe (Sandie) Johnson, Jon (Renee) Johnson, and Matt (Amanda) Johnson; 12 grandchildren: Nick (Shae) Johnson, Steve (Nellie) Johnson, Kyle Anderson, Tricia (Steven) Murphy, Joshua (Megan Peterson) Johnson, Rachel Johnson, Jessica Steffen, Mark (Becky) Steffen, Madelaine Johnson, MacKenzie (Sean) Hammer, Jacob Johnson, and Jaret (Gwen Hanson) Johnson; nine great-grandchildren: Clyde Johnson, Tiger Ann Johnson, Lucie Jonson, Clara Peterson, Oberon Steffen, Raven Steffen, Ellie Hammer, Max Hammer, and Luke Hammer; two children by marriage: Lisa (Dave) Ault, and Paul (Shelly) Koland; and four grandchildren by marriage: George Perpich, Anna Ault, Erik Ault, and Andy Ault.
She is preceded in death by her parents: Milo and Marion Templeman, stepmother Ozelle Templeman; and one sister, Nancy Vetter.
Pedersen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements for Judy. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.pedersenfh.com.
