• Memorial Visitation
  • Wednesday, July 30th, from 4-6pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (9200 S. 27th St. Oak Creek)
• Tribute Service
  • Wednesday, July 30th, starting at 6pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (9200 S. 27th St. Oak Creek)

Judith “Judy” Susan Klapat

Age 76 passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Azura Brookfield at Mierow Farm after living courageously with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on May 15, 1949, in Racine, Wisconsin, Judy was the daughter of the late Robert and Olga (Slesarenko) Heck. A devoted nurse, she spent 24 years caring for mothers and newborns as a Labor & Delivery and NICU nurse at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee, retiring in 2014. Her compassion, professionalism, and playful spirit made her beloved among colleagues and the families she served.

Judy will be remembered for her fun-loving sass, infectious laughter, and love for the simple joys in life-sharing margaritas with friends, tending to her plants, doting on her cats, and traveling whenever she could. Above all, her greatest joy was time spent with her family.

She is survived by her children: Jason, Jared, and Bethany Palko; Amanda (Bennett) Hyland; and step-daughter Jamie (Klapat) Gall, along with her sister Kathy (Heck) Foss. Judy was a proud and loving nana to her grandchildren: Amber Riskey, Alexis, and Brynnleigh Palko; Ivan Palko, Maebel and Linus Hyland; and Jordan (Orr) Kline, Makayla, Rebekah, and Jeremiah Gall.

A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 30th, from 4-6pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (9200 S. 27th St. Oak Creek). A tribute service will begin at 6pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Judy’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research supporting vital work to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.