Tribute by Rosemarie Pilkington\

Judith "Judy" Vermeland-Wendt, who with her late husband Prof. Hans Wendt, were long time SSE members, passed away peacefully at her home in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026.

Many SSE members knew the gregarious Hans, but Judy usually sat quietly doing needlepoint while listening to presentations.  She was very sociable at other times however, with a lively sense of humor, a ready wit, and keen intelligence.

Born in Minneapolis in 1937, she studied at North Dakota State University, joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, where she served as yearbook editor. 
After earning an MA in Library Science from the University of Minnesota, she went on to have a fulfilling career as a Media Generalist at the Webster Magnet School in the St. Paul Public Schools. 

After retiring, Judy volunteered at the reference desk at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and became an active member of the American Association of University Women where she assisted with the library. After Hans’s death she moved to the Kenwood Isles Condominiums, a community she loved being a part of and where she also helped in the library and was the Association President.
 Her hobbies included needlework, reading, and playing Bridge with the Bridge Club twice a week.
 She is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild from her first marriage and Hans's children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.*

 On a personal note: I was flying from New York to California (before 911 restrictions) and had a stop in Minneapolis/St.Paul.  Judy and Hans came to the airport just to walk me to my connecting flight because construction was taking place and they said it was a bit complicated. Or perhaps it was just a chance to see each other and chat.

That's the kind of couple they were.

Rosemarie Pilkington

https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/judith-vermeland-wendt-1093454796