Judith Ann Rems

.Judith Ann (Ahlborn) Rems, age 66 of Arbor Vitae, WI died peacefully and surrounded by her children on Sunday, February 28th at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, WI.
Judy was born on June 23, 1949 in Tomahawk, WI to William and Ardis (Bergman) Ahlborn; the oldest of five siblings. From a very young age, Judy demonstrated her hard-working spirit by helping her parents operate Grand View Resort on Little Arbor Vitae Lake as well as her frequent visits to the Ahlborn Family Farm and sawmill on Blue Lake Road. While growing up in the northwoods, her caring heart was evident by her love of animals and pets of all sorts, even nurturing wild animals back to health. As a young adult she moved to Joliet, Illinois where she worked in an ammunition plant during the height of the Vietnam War. Soon after, she met and married her husband Tony, and they had three children before moving back to the northwoods in 1977 where they later added a fourth child in 1981.

Judy was a gifted artist and expressed a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. She quickly turned her creativity into business ventures. She began her creative endeavors with Arbor Vitae Woodcrafters which later led to the opening of Wilderness Legends Gallery in Minocqua that continued for the next 25 years.

Judy also explored additional creative avenues as a self-taught genealogist. She traveled extensively, both here and abroad, to gather documentation for the family archives which eventually led to the discovery of the Ahlborn Family Crest, which dates back over 1000 years. Over many years of extensive research, she slowly orchestrated, authored and finally published a 300-page book known as the Ahlborn Family History.

Committed to seeing her family legacy live on, and instill her values for generations, she began an annual tradition called “farm camp” where cousins from all arms of the family would gather together to learn about farm life and family heritage. During this time she sparked new energy into the daily operations of the family farm as a self-sustaining business. People today can still purchase farm fresh eggs, pastured chicken, turkey, beef and pork.
Judy loved being a grandma and once said that being a grandma was the job she loved most in her life…

She is survived by her children: Christi (Byron) Hunter of Twin Lakes, WI; Lori (Jason) Kizewski of Wausau, WI; William (Jennifer) Rems of River Falls, WI; and Kelly (Bryan Nelson) Rems of Minocqua, WI; and by 9 grandchildren: Samuel, Joshua, Nathaniel, Abigail and Lydia Hunter; Reece and Colton Kizewski; and Patrick and Olivia Rems; as well as by 2 sisters: Barbara (Jim) Kucharas of Minocqua, WI and Cathy Ahlborn of Arbor Vitae, WI and 1 brother: Charles (Pam) Ahlborn of Arbor Vitae, WI and by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Tony; her parents, William and Ardis Ahlborn; a brother Michael Ahlborn; an infant brother, Edward and infant granddaughter, Grace.

Funeral Mass will be on Monday, March 7th at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church in Woodruff, WI with visitation from 9:00 AM until time of service at the church. Burial will take place in the spring at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Woodruff, WI.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com

Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family.