Judy Catherine was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma July 18, 1941, to Francis and Marie Korstjens. Judy died of cancer in Oklahoma City, July 4, 1999.
Judy's family were oil people and no one place was home until she was in the 9th grade. Okla. City became her home and Mt. St. Mary's her high school of choice. Judy graduated at the top of her class and was the homecoming queen her senior year. After high school, she began in earnest a path that would guide her throughout her life, BEING INVOLVED.
She met her husband Michael at a Young Christians Worker (YCW) workshop where she was fighting for minorities and the rights of a Catholic to be president. This fight to be involved allowed her to be a mother of her children par none, and a friend to every other friend that was struggling with motherhood. When she had her children all in school, Judy turned her eyes towards improving herself, she went back to school and began her professional career. Soon she was an executive secretary for a building corporation, then a tenant coordinator and then out of work. The bottom fell out of Oklahoma's oil and wheat markets and she had to start over.
Judy knew no boundaries. She had tasted the world of buildings and construction and wanted more. She, with her friend and partner, Randy Richey, started Richey/Zink and Associates. In 13 years Judy and Randy went from a small hole in the wall office to a complex with 20,000 square feet, 10 full time employees and a "no job's too tough corporate attitude". Along the way, she fought for higher pay for Catholic Nuns, the rights of children and the role of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma.
Judy did not know of the so called glass ceiling men have put as a barrier for women. She always said, "First you have to want to make a difference, in your life or others, You have to take the risks and know what they are, then you just have to make up your mind and go for it."
Judy was one of a kind. Judy's greatest love though was her family. Judy's love was tough but fair. She always encouraged her "family" to reach for their best. Yet, her greatest gift was her unconditional encouragement and support for her husband, Michael.
Judy is survived by her husband Michael of their home; John Michael her son and his wife, Donna and their children, Krystal, Shawna, Jacob and Nicholas, who reside in Norman; David Paul her son and his wife, Elena and their children, Adam, Sarah, and Ryan, who reside in Blanchard; Tracie Lyn her daughter and her children, Joshua and Jessica, who reside in OKC; and Matthew James her son and his wife, Sandra, who reside in Stillwater. Her living family is her brother, Bob Korstjens of OKC and another brother, Don Korstjens of Tennessee; Uncles Robert and Charles (Bud) Korstjens of Oklahoma City; Aunt Maxine Carnott of Calumet; and numerous cousins and nieces.
Judy's family were oil people and no one place was home until she was in the 9th grade. Okla. City became her home and Mt. St. Mary's her high school of choice. Judy graduated at the top of her class and was the homecoming queen her senior year. After high school, she began in earnest a path that would guide her throughout her life, BEING INVOLVED.
She met her husband Michael at a Young Christians Worker (YCW) workshop where she was fighting for minorities and the rights of a Catholic to be president. This fight to be involved allowed her to be a mother of her children par none, and a friend to every other friend that was struggling with motherhood. When she had her children all in school, Judy turned her eyes towards improving herself, she went back to school and began her professional career. Soon she was an executive secretary for a building corporation, then a tenant coordinator and then out of work. The bottom fell out of Oklahoma's oil and wheat markets and she had to start over.
Judy knew no boundaries. She had tasted the world of buildings and construction and wanted more. She, with her friend and partner, Randy Richey, started Richey/Zink and Associates. In 13 years Judy and Randy went from a small hole in the wall office to a complex with 20,000 square feet, 10 full time employees and a "no job's too tough corporate attitude". Along the way, she fought for higher pay for Catholic Nuns, the rights of children and the role of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma.
Judy did not know of the so called glass ceiling men have put as a barrier for women. She always said, "First you have to want to make a difference, in your life or others, You have to take the risks and know what they are, then you just have to make up your mind and go for it."
Judy was one of a kind. Judy's greatest love though was her family. Judy's love was tough but fair. She always encouraged her "family" to reach for their best. Yet, her greatest gift was her unconditional encouragement and support for her husband, Michael.
Judy is survived by her husband Michael of their home; John Michael her son and his wife, Donna and their children, Krystal, Shawna, Jacob and Nicholas, who reside in Norman; David Paul her son and his wife, Elena and their children, Adam, Sarah, and Ryan, who reside in Blanchard; Tracie Lyn her daughter and her children, Joshua and Jessica, who reside in OKC; and Matthew James her son and his wife, Sandra, who reside in Stillwater. Her living family is her brother, Bob Korstjens of OKC and another brother, Don Korstjens of Tennessee; Uncles Robert and Charles (Bud) Korstjens of Oklahoma City; Aunt Maxine Carnott of Calumet; and numerous cousins and nieces.
Judy Catherine was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma July 18, 1941, to Francis and Marie Korstjens. Judy died of cancer in Oklahoma City, July 4, 1999.
Judy's family were oil people and no one place was home until she was in the 9th grade. Okla. City became her home and Mt. St. Mary's her high school of choice. Judy graduated at the top of her class and was the homecoming queen her senior year. After high school, she began in earnest a path that would guide her throughout her life, BEING INVOLVED.
She met her husband Michael at a Young Christians Worker (YCW) workshop where she was fighting for minorities and the rights of a Catholic to be president. This fight to be involved allowed her to be a mother of her children par none, and a friend to every other friend that was struggling with motherhood. When she had her children all in school, Judy turned her eyes towards improving herself, she went back to school and began her professional career. Soon she was an executive secretary for a building corporation, then a tenant coordinator and then out of work. The bottom fell out of Oklahoma's oil and wheat markets and she had to start over.
Judy knew no boundaries. She had tasted the world of buildings and construction and wanted more. She, with her friend and partner, Randy Richey, started Richey/Zink and Associates. In 13 years Judy and Randy went from a small hole in the wall office to a complex with 20,000 square feet, 10 full time employees and a "no job's too tough corporate attitude". Along the way, she fought for higher pay for Catholic Nuns, the rights of children and the role of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma.
Judy did not know of the so called glass ceiling men have put as a barrier for women. She always said, "First you have to want to make a difference, in your life or others, You have to take the risks and know what they are, then you just have to make up your mind and go for it."
Judy was one of a kind. Judy's greatest love though was her family. Judy's love was tough but fair. She always encouraged her "family" to reach for their best. Yet, her greatest gift was her unconditional encouragement and support for her husband, Michael.
Judy is survived by her husband Michael of their home; John Michael her son and his wife, Donna and their children, Krystal, Shawna, Jacob and Nicholas, who reside in Norman; David Paul her son and his wife, Elena and their children, Adam, Sarah, and Ryan, who reside in Blanchard; Tracie Lyn her daughter and her children, Joshua and Jessica, who reside in OKC; and Matthew James her son and his wife, Sandra, who reside in Stillwater. Her living family is her brother, Bob Korstjens of OKC and another brother, Don Korstjens of Tennessee; Uncles Robert and Charles (Bud) Korstjens of Oklahoma City; Aunt Maxine Carnott of Calumet; and numerous cousins and nieces.
Judy's family were oil people and no one place was home until she was in the 9th grade. Okla. City became her home and Mt. St. Mary's her high school of choice. Judy graduated at the top of her class and was the homecoming queen her senior year. After high school, she began in earnest a path that would guide her throughout her life, BEING INVOLVED.
She met her husband Michael at a Young Christians Worker (YCW) workshop where she was fighting for minorities and the rights of a Catholic to be president. This fight to be involved allowed her to be a mother of her children par none, and a friend to every other friend that was struggling with motherhood. When she had her children all in school, Judy turned her eyes towards improving herself, she went back to school and began her professional career. Soon she was an executive secretary for a building corporation, then a tenant coordinator and then out of work. The bottom fell out of Oklahoma's oil and wheat markets and she had to start over.
Judy knew no boundaries. She had tasted the world of buildings and construction and wanted more. She, with her friend and partner, Randy Richey, started Richey/Zink and Associates. In 13 years Judy and Randy went from a small hole in the wall office to a complex with 20,000 square feet, 10 full time employees and a "no job's too tough corporate attitude". Along the way, she fought for higher pay for Catholic Nuns, the rights of children and the role of the Catholic Church in Oklahoma.
Judy did not know of the so called glass ceiling men have put as a barrier for women. She always said, "First you have to want to make a difference, in your life or others, You have to take the risks and know what they are, then you just have to make up your mind and go for it."
Judy was one of a kind. Judy's greatest love though was her family. Judy's love was tough but fair. She always encouraged her "family" to reach for their best. Yet, her greatest gift was her unconditional encouragement and support for her husband, Michael.
Judy is survived by her husband Michael of their home; John Michael her son and his wife, Donna and their children, Krystal, Shawna, Jacob and Nicholas, who reside in Norman; David Paul her son and his wife, Elena and their children, Adam, Sarah, and Ryan, who reside in Blanchard; Tracie Lyn her daughter and her children, Joshua and Jessica, who reside in OKC; and Matthew James her son and his wife, Sandra, who reside in Stillwater. Her living family is her brother, Bob Korstjens of OKC and another brother, Don Korstjens of Tennessee; Uncles Robert and Charles (Bud) Korstjens of Oklahoma City; Aunt Maxine Carnott of Calumet; and numerous cousins and nieces.
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