August 10, 1953 - April 23, 2018

Judy Ann Halvorson, age 64, a resident of Spooner, died peacefully on Monday, April 23, 2018 at Spooner Health surrounded by her loving family.

Judy was born on August 10, 1953, in San Diego, California to parents Virgil and Regina (Lindemann) Kockelman while her father was stationed at Camp Pendleton.  Shortly after her birth, her father was discharged and their family moved to Canby, Minnesota.  She attended the St. Peter’s Catholic School and then graduated the Class of 1971 from Canby High School.  After graduation, she moved to the Twin Cities to pursue her nursing career and received her Diploma Degree in Nursing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.  It was here where she would meet her future husband James Halvorson, while he was attending the University of Minnesota.  They would be united in marriage on December 21, 1974 at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby, Minnesota.  They would continue to live in the Twin Cities area where they would welcome their first child Shawna.  They would then move to Wisconsin where their family would continue to grow as they would welcome three boys, Keith, Scott, and Mark. Judy began working for the Spooner Hospital in 1978 in many nursing roles, including charge nurse and head nurse. She would then follow her passion as an OB nurse at Lakeview Medical Center.  There she would touch many people’s lives as she helped expectant parents by teaching numerous pre-natal classes as well as taking care of countless mothers and babies throughout her years as an OB nurse. After 29 years of marriage the couple divorced and in 2005 Judy would hit the road as a travel nurse working in Texas and then would come back to Wisconsin to work at Amery Medical Center. In 2008, Judy met Gary Kammerud and they committed themselves to each other in 2013.  She welcomed him, his children, and his grandchildren into her life as if they were her own.  He preceded her in death unexpectedly in October of 2016 as he battled with his own health.  Her nursing career would then come full circle when she was welcomed back to the Spooner Health System. She would eventually retire in 2016 after 36 years in the nursing profession. Judy loved attending family events, concerts, plays, hockey games, art fairs and festivals.  In her spare time she was an avid reader, scrap booker, collector of numerous things, and loved to crochet. She was also a talented seamstress and enjoyed sewing many things including her daughter and daughter in law’s wedding gowns.  She will be remembered for her love of adventure, music, and family.

Judy is survived by her children: Shawna (Tom) Cleveland of Spooner, WI, Keith (Sybil) Halvorson of Esko, MN, Scott (Brianna) Halvorson of Duluth, MN, Mark (Carmen) Halvorson of Spooner, WI, 12 grandchildren: Cale, Deagan, Claire, Alec, Annika, Vivian, Finn, Boden, Max, Sigve, Simona, Sullivan, brothers and sisters: Jerry (Lavonne) Kockelman of Canby, MN, Pat (Rick) Callens of Prairie Rose, ND, Greg (Linda) Kockelman of Canby, MN, Karen (Mark) Schultz of Spooner, WI, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, and her dog Rusty.

Judy is preceded in death by her parents and Gary Kammerud.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Judy Halvorson will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018, at 11am, at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Spooner, where she was a member for 40 years, with Fr. Bala as Celebrant.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 26, from 3-6pm with a Prayer Service at 6pm at the Spooner Funeral Home and also on Friday from 10-11am at the Church.  Interment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Spooner then luncheon served at St. Francis de Sales.   Casket bearers will be Tony, Ross, Nick, and Ethan Kockelman, Nate and Quinn Callens. Her twelve grandchildren will act as honorary casket bearers. Online condolences may be left at www. Bratley-nelsonchapels.com. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be written to St. Francis de Sales School or Rochester Mennonite Guest Home.

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:45 pm CST