Judith Wachter

Judith Wachter of Creston, Iowa passed away peacefully with family at her side, on March 22, 2024.  

Survivors include husband Russell, sons Jeffrey Wright-Sedam, Steve Sedam, and Raymond Wachter (stepson); daughters JoAnne Hardick, Becky Scholtec, and Shelly Hudson; and sister Dr. Ellen Longsworth. Preceding her in death: daughter Nancy Sedam, brother Robert Longsworth, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great grandparents, great-great-great grandparents, great-great-great-great grandparents, and so on, back to Adam and Eve.

Born Judith Ann Longsworth on Dec. 7, 1939 (Auburn, Indiana), Judith was the eldest child of Robert and Alice Longsworth. She graduated from Hicksville High School (Ohio), after which she enrolled at Penn State University in Collegetown, PA where she met her future husband John Allen Sedam with whom she had three wonderful children (Jeffrey, Stephen, and Nancy). A second marriage, to James Hardick, sadly ended with his untimely death. Her third marriage, to Russell Eugene Wachter, lasted 42 years until her death.

Moving to Creston Iowa in 1976 with a Master’s Degree in education, Judith became a staple of the local school system, where she threw herself into her work, missing few opportunities to impact students and the broader community.

An active organist at the First Christian Church, Judith also taught piano, played harp, and was an accomplished practitioner of china painting, winning ribbons at the County and State Fairs. She was an avid gardener, Bridge player, member of the local Ladies’ Literary Society, loved to read and travel, and is known for her cross words, jumbles, and other mental games.

After retiring, Judith was faced with a series of serious health problems, including Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (2001 with a recurrence in 2003); Heart valve replacement (2008); Shoulder surgery (2010); Breast cancer (2010); and Knee surgery (2012). She beat the odds many times over. In her final years, she was beset by Addison’s Disease, Diabetes, Kidney failure, Congestive Heart Failure, and Dementia, but still, she persisted. Her final years were centered around her home, where she loved enjoying her reclining chair, cheering for the Cubs, the Hawkeyes (with her personal favorite, Herky), or her alma mater, Penn State over a glass of fine single-malt scotch.

Donations in her memory can be directed to East Union Dollars for Scholars. A Celebration of Life will be planned.  

Herky approves of this message.