BROOKFIELD-Long-time resident of Wauwatosa. (Nee Mayer) Peacefully passed away on Monday, June 7, 2021. Age 87.  Dear mother of Martha Risser, Laura (Mark) Wahlen and Kathy (Paul) MacAvaney.  Loving grandmother of Andrew (Margaret) Voit, Amber (Timothy) Behagen, Kelly (Jonathan Schacht) MacAvaney, Dennis MacAvaney, Kevin (Teagen) Wahlen, Sean MacAvaney and Agnes Judith Tessner Risser; and her great-grandchildren, Brady, Max, Riley and Hannah. Judy was also a grandmother to Thomas Hicks and Michelle Curtis, and was “Great-Grandma Judy” to their children. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.  Preceded in death by her parents, John and Genevieve Mayer; her husband, Andrew Risser; her sister, Ruth Henson; her son-in-law, Peter Tessner; and her long-time companion, Donald Hicks. 

Judy grew up in Sheboygan and Chilton, Wisconsin. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956, and married Andrew that same year. 

Judy loved teaching for 24 1/2 years at South Division High School where she also ran the school newspaper and a literary magazine.  She was very fond of her students and fellow staff. 

In her retirement, Judy was able to enjoy her passion for genealogy and use her creative gifts with doll making, sewing, and painting ceramics, but what she loved the most was cherished time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Judy was also an active member of the Milwaukee branch of the American Association of University Women for the past two decades, serving on committees and proofreading the newsletter. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Judy Risser’s name to AAUW College Women’s Fund Foundation, 924 East Juneau Ave. STE. 202, Milwaukee, WI 53202.  

A Celebration of Judy’s Life will be held in the Family Center at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 12875 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, on Sunday, July 18, 3-5pm.