Judith Hand

Judith Jane Hand

May 19, 1937- Sept. 16, 2026

Judith Jane Hand passed away on Sept. 16, 2026, in Newton, KS surrounded by her loving family.

Judith “Judy” was born May 19, 1937, in Springfield, MO, to Augusta Lucile (Inman) and Jesse Willard Jackson. From the age of five she was raised by her mother and Grandmother, who cultivated her love of music, art, and literature. She grew up with her two sisters Jacqueline June and Julie Jean Jackson.

From an early age, Judy excelled in music, taking lessons on the violin and piano. As her skills progressed, she began teaching other violin students and was the youngest player in the Springfield Civic Orchestra.

After moving to Newton, KS with her mother and younger sister, Judy attended Newton High School, graduating in 1955. Here, she met the love of her life, Bill Hand, and they were married on Christmas Eve, 1955. They were married for 65 years.

Judy and Bill raised a family of five children, Julie, Jennie, Jill, Bob, and Jacquie. She was very proud of her family and was a full-time mother until they were all in school. She then went to work in retail and secretarial jobs, eventually becoming assistant to the superintendent of the Santa Fe Railroad offices in Newton. At that time Bill was also employed with the Santa Fe as a locomotive engineer.

Judy had an abundant creative energy that led her to ceramics, painting, and eventually rekindled her musical interest on the violin. It was then, in her early fifties, that she picked up her instrument again, playing for the first time in almost forty years. She studied with a professor at Bethel College, eventually joining the Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra and then the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra. Her involvement with the symphony grew and she became a member of the board, serving many roles including president. Judy also played in the first violin section of the Hutchinson and Salina Symphonies.

Judy was active in several other local organizations during her lifetime. She was a member of the M.E.O. Club, Jaycee Janes, and the Northview Developmental Services board of directors. Other occupations include independent sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and partner in the Center for Natural Therapeutics.

Judy’s creativity was also exhibited by her artwork. She took up painting, created a studio in her home, and poured her heart into a multitude of works in different styles and mediums.

Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Preston Hand, her mother Lucile Jackson, and father Jesse Jackson, and two sisters Jacqueline June King, and Julie Jean Jeffrey. She is survived by her five children, spouses and partners, Julie and Michael Sadowski, Jennifer Villa and Elden Beach, Jill and Max Gatz, Robert Hand, Jacqueline Hand and Stanley Jordan; her grandchildren Tjaden Sadowski, Holly Sadowski, Jessica and Chris Leiser, Nicholas and Angela Gatz, Melissa Gatz, Jenna and Anthony Juarez, Justin and Stacie Hand; and great grandchildren Casen Leiser, Preston Leiser, and Coy Leiser, John “Jack” Gatz, Eva Gatz, Stella Gatz, and Juliet Gatz. She is also survived by her loving nieces and nephews.

Judy loved family and children and will be missed by all who loved her in return. The Hand family thanks the staff on the west hall at Kidron Bethel Village for their ongoing care of our mother, and those at Newton Medical Center for their excellent care during her final days.

Memorials are established with the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra and the Trinity Heights United Methodist Church Respite program for children with developmental disabilities.

A memorial service is planned for 2:00 p.m., Monday Nov. 9 at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow. A private burial will precede the service.