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Judith (Judy) A. Steffel

WAUSAU – Judith (Judy) A. Steffel, beloved by her dogs, cats, goats, and human family, died Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Wausau, Wisconsin, in hospice care after a recurrence of breast cancer. She was 66.

Judy was a woman of many talents, having served, among others, as a lab sample courier, engineering office manager, college dorm RA, city building security officer, city police officer in Juneau, Alaska, and finally, a dog breeder and goat farmer in Houghton.

She was an effective and ahead-of-her-time police officer and early proponent of de-escalation, community policing; she never had to throw a punch or fire her weapon in the line of duty. But she found her calling, was at her best, and had the most fun when she was working on her farm with her dogs and the goats she raised primarily as entertainment for the dogs in Houghton.

The farm was a creation of her designs that include many innovative systems to allow efficient use of time and motion during the single-handed movements of animals from place to place and the distribution of food to the respective feeding stations.

She was a long-term student and documentarian of canine geneology and a champion of good breeding practices to preserve and protect the quality of all dog breeds and especially her favorite breed, Tibetan Mastiff livestock guardian dogs.

She gave selflessly of her time to provide information to those seeking knowledge regarding good breeding practices, and was a bane to those employing poor breeding methods simply for profit.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Jamie Sarzynski and her parents, Ray and Esther Steffel.

She will be greatly missed by her close friends in the area, her online dog breeder compatriots, the area vets, animal feed purveyors, building contractors and suppliers, and her far-flung family consisting of three brothers and their spouses and offspring.

Judy is survived by her inside girls, Muskeg Sassafras (Sassy), Muskeg Violet, and Sierra Muskeg Whiskey River, and her outside girls and goat protectors Sierra Muskeg Hermione Gingold, Campari, Sambuca, Lakkalikoori (Lakka), Glayva, and Yvette. Oh, and her brothers Richard, Robert, and John. Some of her dogs (but not her brothers) are looking for good homes.

Her local friends may arrange a memorial service at a later time.

In lieu of any other indications of sympathy, please support your local animal shelter and spay and neuter program. Goddess speed, Judy our dear sister and unique human being.