Obituary of Judith Luchsinger

MOM’S OBIT

This world lost a badass on Sunday, July 28th at 4:20 pm. She fought a short but fierce battle with cancer, one of very few losses on her record.

While she, herself, was short but fierce, she was a natural athlete and was exceptional at most every sport she tried. An incomplete but alphabetical list includes: Acrobatics, Archery, Bowling, Cheerleading, Fencing, Fishing, Golf, Horsemanship, Judo, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis and Target Shooting. She loved the competition. She graduated from Janesville (Wisconsin) High School in 1957 and earned the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award as Most Athletic Female in her class. She then went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, with a BS degree in education. She was inducted into Delta Psi Kappa, an honorary fraternity for women in physical education.

After she earned a black belt in Judo, she used her skills to teach women how to protect themselves from violence. In 1977, she authored a book, Practical Self-Defense for Women and traveled throughout the US on the college circuit teaching self-defense. She attended Take Back the Night marches and was fiercely loyal to candidates and causes that worked for the safety and well-being of women. She was a feminist when it was dangerous to be so.

She did not have the patience to be idle. When she wasn’t working she found an array of volunteer positions. An incomplete but alphabetical list includes: Animal rescues, Girl Scouts of America, Red Cross, Regions Hospital infusion room, Stable Pathways and We Can Ride.

Later in life, she discovered her happiest place on earth at the White Stallion Ranch in Arizona. There she found horses, forever friendships, Cactus Cowgirls and winter warmth, a few of her favorite things.

Her family meant everything to her and she counted among her family members a large congregate, those brought together both by birth and by choice. Her brother, Roger Heller, preceded her in death and she missed him, remembering French horn duets, neighborhood excursions with Grandma Edie and bonding over the Packer game.

She leaves, in this world, her daughter, Lori Luchsinger, her daughter-in-law, Karen Salmey, her twin grandsons, Will (Cecilia) Doherty and Taylor (Mary) Dossman and their children, her great-grandchildren, Milo Doherty, Violet Doherty, Perry Dossman and Frankie Dossman. She also leaves behind, her 14-year-old, four-legged baby, Steve and generations of ducks that made their way into her heart from the pond in her backyard.

All animals trusted her immediately but her favorite were horses. She loved and accepted everything about them. They had a mutual understanding and respect for one another and I believe she and Unicorn are out on a ride together right now.

A celebration of her life will be held on September 8th from 2:00-5:00 pm, right on her duck pond at 4195 Beaver Dam Road, Eagan, MN. Bring stories. Eulogy at 3:00.

If you care to donate in her name, she would have been thrilled to know it went to rescuing an animal anywhere.