Steven T. Judge

Steve was a hero to his family, and a gentleman in every sense. Born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 19, 1959, he graduated with honors from Burlingame High School, Calif., in 1977. He then attended the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, completing two years of education and training with distinction. During his time as a USAFA cadet he played the contrabass in the Drum and Bugle Corps, played on the Rugby team, and completed parachute and survival training. While on active duty in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was stricken with encephalitis, which precipitated schizophrenia. Steve received an honorable discharge as a USAFA cadet in late 1979, returned to civilian life, and began a long road to recovery. Steve married Diane Marie Tarr at his grandparents’ Century Farm home in Elma, Iowa, on Nov. 24, 1983. The two remained a couple and would have celebrated their 30th anniversary this year. Steve was active with the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill. He was a loyal volunteer and advocate for supports and services for consumers of mental-health services. He was part of the NAMI Veterans Council at the VAMC in Iowa City and took part in Peer Support training. He was proud to be involved with Connections, a NAMI program of support and self-help for people with serious mental illnesses. He was grateful for the Compeer for Vets program of Johnson County, and enjoyed his friendship with Wayne. He owned his own home and loved home management: mowing grass, raking leaves, snow-blowing. He opened his home to the Fairweather Lodge work group when they spent several weeks volunteering in Iowa City after the flood. His willingness to offer his home and help facilitate networking efforts that eventually helped establish Fairweather Lodge homes in the Iowa City area. Steve’s passing is grieved by his wife, Diane, and mother, June, of Iowa City; his father and step-mother, Tom and Mary Lou Judge, of California; his brothers David Judge and Mike Judge (Masae Yoshino) of Iowa City; his sister Katherine (Nick McNamara) of Madison, WI.