Judson "Jud" M. Armstrong

Judson “Jud” Mark Armstrong, 69, of Charleston passed away on May 18, 2022 from complications following an accident. Jud was born on September 26, 1952 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Warren Arne Armstrong and Dagmar Alexandra “Sandra” (Granovsky) Armstrong. Jud grew up in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Minneapolis and graduated from Columbia Heights High School in 1970. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Agronomy in 1974 from the University of Minnesota. During his time there, he was a proud sousaphone player in the Golden Gopher Marching Band.

Jud volunteered as a member of the Peace Corps in Paraguay in the mid-70s before going on to work in the field of agricultural science.

Jud married the love of his life, Kathleen “Kathy” Gae (Wood) Armstrong, on March 31, 1979 at Webster Groves Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Their daughter, Karen Christine, was born in 1990 and their son, Jonathan Mark, was born in 1996.

In 1992, Jud’s job brought them to Charleston. A few years later he took a position at Kraft Foods in Champaign, where he worked until his retirement.

Jud had an enduring love for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota where his family has vacationed every summer for over 50 years. He was also a proud Eagle Scout, heavily involved as Assistant Scout Master in local Boy Scout Troop 141 for many years and recognized by many scouts for mentoring them to the Eagle rank. In his spare time, he enjoyed photography, music, theater, and traveling to amazing places around the world, from Alaska to Costa Rica to New Zealand. He loved his family deeply and treasured his connections with close friends.

Jud was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Sandra Armstrong, his younger sister Melissa, who was stillborn, and his beloved wife Kathy. He is survived by his two children, Karen and Jonathan, and his three siblings: brother Dean Armstrong (Debra) and nieces Kerry Gamble and Jessica Armstrong of St. Paul, Minnesota, brother Reed Armstrong (Laura) of Austin, Texas, and sister Ann Armstrong of Atlanta, Georgia.

A celebration of Jud’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boy Scout Troop 141 of Charleston or the Listening Point Foundation in Ely, Minnesota. Gifts may be mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, Illinois 61920.

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