1955-2026
Judy Diane Juhnke (Schroeder) of Topeka, Kansas, passed peacefully in her sleep on September 8, 2026, after fighting a brief illness.
Judy was born on April 29,1955, to author Doris and renowned fisherman John Schroeder in Hutchinson, Kansas. She attended school at Central Christian before her path wended towards an education in interior design.
She married Stanley Juhnke on December 26th, 1981.
Judy worked as a travel agent and used her knowledge of the industry to ensure past explorers left no corner of Italy undiscovered. She passed this love of travel onto her sons, Ryan, born in 1983 and Michael, in 1985.
Judy took time away from work to raise and mold her sons. She cheered them on in their many athletic pursuits, whether successful (Ryan) or full of effort (Michael). Regular pilgrimages to Manhattan became a fall tradition. Judy loved using her pom-poms to cheer for Kansas State in the first half of football games. She would still cheer for them in the second half, but the pom-poms typically needed to be confiscated by late in the second quarter.
Judy worked to improve her community over the years through her support of organizations like the Salvation Army and American Diabetes Association. She loved fitness and eventually turned her hobby into a career as a personal trainer, where her clients quickly became close friends. Judy treasured her regular bridge games with friends who became like sisters to her, both in their ability to cause trouble and as a consistent source of support.
In recent years, Judy moved to Topeka. She returned to cheering on athletic pursuits, this time of her two grandchildren, Max and Maddox (both successful).
She is survived by her husband, Stanley Juhnke, Topeka; her children, Ryan Juhnke (Melissa), Topeka; Michael Juhnke (Samantha), Kansas City; her grandsons, Max and Maddox Juhnke; her father, John Schroeder, Buhler; and her brother, John D. Schroeder (Carol), Clearwater.
Judy was preceded in death by her mother, Doris Schroeder, Aunt Carol Jean Kroeker; in-laws, Quinton and Ella Juhnke, Carlene Postier, and Dwayne Juhnke.
Visitation with family greeting friends will be on Sunday September 20th, from 2-4pm at the Buhler Mortuary, 120 N Main St, Buhler KS.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to Harvesters (A Community Food Network) at harverster.org or can be sent to Buhler Mortuary P.O. Box 589 Buhler, Kansas 67522.
