Judy Steimle

Judy Kaup Steimle, 72, of Papillion NE, passed away on February 23, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. In December 2020, she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. For 3 years, she battled this disease along with the debilitating effects of the immunotherapy. She fought all of this with strength, courage and dignity.

Judy was born in Atkinson, NE, to Herman and Dorothy Kaup, on April 17, 1951. She attended kindergarten at District 99. After the death of her father in 1954, her family moved from the farm into town when Judy was entering first grade. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School for elementary and high school and graduated in 1969.

Shortly after graduation, Judy moved to Omaha and began working at Northwestern Bell in the Yellow Pages. She retired from Qwest Communications in 2001 where she finished her career repairing pay telephones.

In December 1970, she married Lane Pacha. To that union was born her loving daughter, Cortney. In April 1986, she and Gene Steimle were married in Hawaii. Her family now included stepchildren, Wendy and Randy.

After retirement, Judy and Gene enjoyed working in national parks in Alaska and Montana, traveling around the world, and making memories to last a lifetime. They traveled to Mexico, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Australia, and New Zealand.

She took an active role in the lives of her grandchildren and loved them dearly. Upon retirement, Judy babysat her grandchildren, volunteered at their school, attended many of their sporting events, and planned many family trips which included them. She was always a hands-on grandmother.

As a woman of faith, Judy served her church, St. Geralds, in several different capacities. She was a sacristan, EMHC, usher, washed/mended the servers’ albs, and chaired the HOPE program.

Before her cancer diagnosis, Judy led an active life. When she wasn’t in her kitchen with her grandchildren, she could be found in her sewing and craft room. There wasn’t a craft or project that was too difficult for Judy to undertake. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, embroidering, cooking, painting, reading and much more.

Judy loved her extended family dearly. She loved planning and hosting family get-togethers. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to family members whenever they called on her. Her relationship with her siblings was cherished.

She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She touched the lives of so many people. She will truly be missed and will never, ever, be forgotten.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Dorothy Kaup, mother-in-law Margaret Steimle, sisters; Sharon Kaup and Karen Kaup Seger, and brothers-in-law Kenneth Farley, Paul Seger and Harry Steimle.

She is survived by her loving husband, Gene, children Cortney (Doug Donaldson), Wendy Johansen and Randy Steimle, grandchildren Kelby (Alexis) Johansen, Dean, Brooklyn, and Cole Donaldson and Chloe Owen, siblings; Ralph Kaup, Phyllis (Marvin) Scholz, Florence Kaup, Janet (Mike) Davis and Carol (Frank) Charvat, brothers-in-law; Carl (Candi) Steimle, and Dick (Susan) Steimle, many nieces, nephews, cousins and “adopted son” Brett Tomlin.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Hospital, or St. Gerald's Catholic Church.