Julia Ann "Judy" Verdoorn

Julia Ann “Judy” Verdoorn, age 85, peacefully passed away at her home April 7, 2025 surrounded by her daughters in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She is survived by her daughters Mary (Doug) Amen of Lakewood and Amy Verdoorn of Lakewood; granddaughters, Carly Amen of Colorado Springs and Caley Botsonis (Jimmy) of Castle Rock; Great-Grandchildren Rhea, Cooper and Charlie; sister, Kay Godfrey of Sioux City, Iowa and honorary “daughter” Brenda Stifel along with an abundance of treasured family and wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Everett D. Verdoorn, her parents, Julius and Frances Talsma; brothers Glenn Talsma (Janice) and Robert Talsma (Ramona); sisters Janice Fraser, Karilyn Merchant (Doug), Arta Hull (Cordell), Mary Godfrey (Clark) and brother-in-law Jim Godfrey.

She was born in Orange City, Iowa, the second youngest of eight children. She grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and graduated from East High School in January 1958 with accomplishments in basketball and baton twirling. Judy married Everett Verdoorn on June 27,1959 and soon moved to Wheat Ridge, Colorado. They had two daughters, Mary Jo and Amy Jean. In 1962, they settled in Lakewood, Colorado. In November 1997, Everett built Judy her dream home located on the Lone Tree Golf Course where she loved to entertain all her family and friends.

Judy’s greatest passion was family and she loved to travel with her sisters. They always had grand adventures and that was one of the many highlights of her life. Being part of the Talsma family meant huge family gatherings including Disneyland and other California attractions, Iowa, Lewis and Clark Lake in South Dakota and abroad. She and Everett also had fabulous trips with their Heritage West friends that she always cherished.

If you were to ask Judy what her grandest accomplishment was in her life, she would surely answer “being Nanny”. Judy was known as Nanny to her granddaughters, Carly and Caley, their school friends, some of her great nieces and nephews, and then her great grandchildren, Rhea, Cooper, and Charlie. As a matter of fact, there were many adults that only knew her as Nanny also. She would volunteer at Carly and Caley’s elementary school classrooms and taught the kids the fine art of going to lunch in the Hummer including Chinese fire drills and proceeding to walk in fashionably late in front of the school Principal. That was Nanny’s style.

Recently, Nanny was able to celebrate her 85th birthday in good spirits with much of her extended family on a trip to Sioux City, IA and Yankton, SD.

A Visitation will be held at Horan & McConaty, Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO on Monday, April 14th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, April 16th at 1:00 pm at Three Trees Chapel, 13416 W. Arbor Pl., Littleton, CO 80127 with reception to follow.

Please share memories and condolences with Judy's family by signing the guestbook.