Judy M. Ham

     Judy M. Ham passed away Monday, June 23, 2025. She was 66 years of age.

     A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. A time to gather with friends and family to share stories and memories will follow the service until 3:00 p.m. Judy’s family asks for any donations in her memory to be made to the Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County in lieu of sending flowers. 

     Judy was born September 27, 1958 to Leonard and Betty Grieser. The middle of 5 children, Judy grew up surrounded by loud siblings and quiet cornfields. She graduated from Waco High School in 1977 and then spent a year as a foreign exchange student in Belgium. She returned to the states to start her college education at Hesston College, finishing at the University of Iowa with a degree in theatre.

     Life took Judy on many adventures, including her time as a cross-country trucker, a disc jockey for KCCI in Washington, and as a dispatcher for the Washington County Sheriff's Department. She met her husband, Ray, while working for the sheriff’s department and often joked that they met in jail. They were joined in marriage on June 2, 1989. Ray picked that date specifically because it is his birthday and he didn’t want to chance forgetting their anniversary.

     Once married, Judy settled in Fairfield with Ray and they welcomed their daughter, Aissa. Judy filled her spare time by working as a parish assistant at First Lutheran Church, participating in and teaching bible studies, and a part-time job at the local Christian bookstore. It was through the bookstore that she met Greg and Julie Crawford and was invited to be one of the teachers at their bible school. She taught at the Jubilee Ministry School from its beginning until its last in Fairfield.

     Judy was also passionate about helping her community in any way she could. This eventually led to her running for Fairfield City Council. She was in her second term at the time of her passing.

     Judy is survived by her husband, Ray Ham; step-son, TJ (Lisa) Ham; daughter, Aissa (Jacob) Jones; granddaughters, Madison and Jaelen; grandsons, Ronan, Callon, Judah, Abel, Connar, and Asher; her mother, Betty Grieser; sisters, Twila Grieser, Ranee (Mick) Reschly, Jalaine (Paul) Fishell; brother, Doyle (Barb) Grieser; as well as many nieces and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard; and her nephew, Justin.