Judith Ann Schmidtke

Judith Ann "Judy" (Whiteside) Schmidtke, 89, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a lifelong educator, woman of faith, and treasured friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 3, 2026, in Sun City West, Arizona.

Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry, MO.

Judy was born July 10, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Elsberry, Missouri, the community she always considered home. An only child, she was the daughter of Dr. Edwin Richard Whiteside and Julia Lucinda (Levengood) Whiteside.

A 1955 graduate and Valedictorian of Elsberry High School, Judy went on to the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she earned an Education Degree while an active member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and Junior Panhellenic Counsel. She later continued her education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning a Master's Degree in Education.

Education became Judy's life's work. She began her career as a reading teacher with the Columbia, Missouri Public Schools. She later joined the Center School District in Kansas City, first as a special education teacher and later advancing to become Director of Developmental Instruction for Center Schools.

In the 1980s, Judy returned to the Elsberry and Clarksville, Missouri areas and continued her work in special education with the Clopton School District. She later moved to Conway, South Carolina, where she continued serving students with reading and learning needs throughout the school district. During her years in Conway, she was recognized for excellence in teaching, including a Teacher of the Year honor.

Judy's commitment to education extended beyond her professional career. She was a lifelong member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, beginning with Chapter AI in Elsberry and continuing her involvement throughout her life. P.E.O.'s mission of expanding educational opportunities for women was a natural reflection of Judy's own belief in the transforming power of education. She was recognized as the oldest active Arizona PEO member at the State PEO Conference at Tucson, Arizona in 2014.

Faith was another constant throughout her life. Judy grew up active in Elsberry Christian Church and remained involved in church life wherever she lived. After retiring to Arizona, Judy and her husband, Lowell W. Schmidtke, were active members of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Suprise, Arizona.

Judy also loved the friendships and fellowship she found around a bridge table. She participated in women's bridge clubs throughout her life in Missouri, South Carolina and Arizona.

She had an adventurous spirit and a great love of travel. Judy and Lowell traveled often throughout the United States and abroad, enjoying cruises and journeys to destinations including Russia and the Middle East. Retirement gave them the opportunity to see the world together and build many wonderful memories.

Judy was first married to Ronald Glynn Riffle, who also grew up in Elsberry, with whom she had her only child, Ronald Glynn Riffle II. She married Lowell W. Schmidtke in South Carolina in 1995, and the couple eventually retired to Surprise, Arizona in 1999.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julia Lucinda (Levengood) Whiteside in 1991 and Dr. Edwin Richard Whiteside in 1996. Her father “Eddie” lived with her in South Carolina for several years before his passing in Elsberry.

Judy is survived by her loyal husband, Lowell W. Schmidtke of Sun City West, AZ; her son, Ronald “Chip” Glynn Riffle II of Troy, MO; her grandson, Nicholas Robert Riffle of Kansas City, MO and his Mother, Joni L. Riffle of Parkville, MO; Lowell’s daughters, Lynn M. Seigler (Jim) of Cowpens, SC and Susan Schmidtke Harris (Keith) of Mount Pleasant, SC; and Judy’s beloved cousins, Brent "Doc" Evans Wilson, Kimberly Ann Wilson, Blake Evans Wilson (Julie), John Bryan Wilson (Jennifer) and children all of Elsberry, MO, and Wynn Gion Wilson of Bowling Green, MO.

Across a career spanning several decades and several communities, Judy devoted herself to children who needed an educator willing to recognize their individual abilities and help them learn. Her legacy lives not only in her family, but also in the generations of students whose lives were touched by her patience, knowledge and dedication.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Judy's memory to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org or 800-272-3900), supporting its work in Alzheimer's research, care and support.