Kindergarten mainstay will be first retiree in school’s 29-year history
By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church decided it was time to build a school in 1983. Judy Becker was one of those members and then a substitute teacher in the school’s first year. She was hired as a full-time teacher the following year and has been there ever since.
Her service will come to an end at the end of this school year. After 29 years of teaching at Our Redeemer, Becker will graduate her kindergartners to first grade for the last time and retire.
“After 40 years of teaching, it just seemed like the right time,” Becker said.
Becker said the thing she will miss the most will be the smiles and hugs from the children no matter what type of day it is. She also will miss singing “Jesus Loves Me” nearly every day.
Beginnings
Becker, 62, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1972 and began her career teaching physical education to sixth- through 12th-graders in Thorp. She then moved on to teach physical education to kindergarten through eighth-graders in the Big Foot Coop – Reek, Fontana and North Walworth schools.
In 1983, Becker was taking time off from full-time teaching to care for her children but still substitute taught. She was also an active member of Our Redeemer Church when a group of parents and other congregation members voted to build a new school. Becker was part of that group and played the organ at the school’s opening.
“The church was ready for a school,” Becker said. “The time was right.”
Becker was proud the group was able to get the congregation to vote yes on building on the first vote. She said it was like God’s hand was guiding them in their mission as Sunday School rooms, meeting rooms and offices were converted to day school rooms.
After one year of subbing, Becker was asked to replace departing kindergarten teacher Becky Schlund and she agreed. Twenty-nine years later, Becker will be the school’s first retiree. Other teachers have left for other positions, but Becker will be the first to retire from Our Redeemer.
Ambassor
“She is more than just a teacher,” Principal and Minister of Education Jim Breytung said. “She is an ambassador for Our Redeemer.”
Breytung said Becker has a gift for always being helpful and is always the first one to tackle a problem or respond to a tragedy. He said she always makes the effort to get everyone involved and he is sure that will continue in retirement.
Breytung said Becker was always continuing her education, staying on top of what other schools were doing and adapting her methods. She also attended workshops like the National Kindergarten Convention and put what she learned there into practice. She received her master’s degree from UW-Whitewater as well.
“She has been so much more than just an academic teacher,” Breytung said. “She teaches life lessons and is like a mother figure.”
Breytung said Becker always tries to make the kids feel good about themselves and ensure they each make an important contribution. He also said she is very patriotic and is a great leader.
“She is a good witness to her faith and she passes on her love for her Lord and Savior to her students,” he said. “There will be a void at Our Redeemer.”
Becker taught kindergarten for all of her 29 years at Our Redeemer and also spent some time teaching second grade and physical education. She was in charge of the school’s Sunshine Fund and directed several school musicals, choirs and Christmas programs. She was the music director for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association referee for volleyball and gymnastics for 25 years. Becker is also the church organist and a member of the church choir as an accompanist and singer.
“She is always in high gear,” Breytung said.
“The kids truly love her,” said the Rev. Robert Rickman, church pastor. “She sets the groundwork in kindergarten for their whole life at Our Redeemer.”
Rickman said Becker’s love for kids and her total commitment to them, her Lord and her church make her a great teacher.
“She is a great teacher because of her passion for teaching, her love for the kids, her love for sharing Jesus with them, her endless energy and her great sense of humor,” said Annette King-Hummel, who has shared the kindergarten position with Becker for the past four years. King-Hummel said she learned a lot from Becker in that time and will take over the position full-time next year.
“She has an undying dedication to Our Redeemer, the students, the staff and the parents,” King-Hummel said. “It is not a job to her, it is a life choice.”
King-Hummel said Becker inspires other staff members with her great character, commitment and joy for anything Our Redeemer.
“She shares her whole self with students and staff,” she said. “Her bubbly personality and exuberance will be greatly missed.”
Eighth-grade teacher Susan Rickman said Becker’s love of her job was apparent by her enthusiasm and non-stop energy.
“She loves being with the kids and she gives 110 percent to everything she does,” Rickman said.
Rickman said Becker is a good example for others to follow because of her dedication to the school and the church.
“She understands what it is like to be a minister, and she is willing to share her love with everybody,” Rickman said.
Pre-school teacher Kate Grabow said she has been privileged to be Becker’s classroom neighbor for 20 years and her room is always a whirlwind of activity, laughter and song. She said Becker has been blessed with an amazing musical gift.
“Her joyful song-filled heart will be missed next door,” Grabow said.
First-grade teacher Barb Breytung said she shared musical duties with Becker and all her work on Christmas services, directing school musicals and leading the choir allowed Becker to use to the fullest the musical gifts and talents God gave her.
“Judy’s never-ending energy and contagious enthusiasm were an inspiration to me,” she said. “The rehearsals and the countless hours of planning have created memories I will always cherish.”
Second-grade teacher Brenda Zeuner said Becker is a teacher with a great love of children and their families.
“She approaches education with energy, fun and consistency,” Zeuner said. “She is an advocate for her students.”
Zeuner said Becker always greeted her students with a smile.
Fourth-grade teacher Kirsten Kramer said the thing she associates the most with Becker is her caring nature.
“Judy listens, and she sincerely cares,” Kramer said.
Retirement plans
Becker said she will undoubtedly return to substitute teach in her retirement but she looks forward to traveling with her husband, David, exercising, gardening, staying involved in the church, and spending time with her grandchildren. They might also start looking for a nice home in a community for the two of them to retire to, where they can focus on the things they want to do. Plenty of options can be found in online articles about New Homes in Kelowna from the 500s and other similar low-deposit options for them to choose from.
Becker’s family includes her three sons, all Our Redeemer and Delavan-Darien High School graduates – Matthew, Mark and Tom; Matthew’s wife, Kelly, and their children Logan and Grace; Mark wife, Stacy, and their children Adeline and Lucas; and Tom’s girlfriend, Diane Keeling.
Jim Breytung said Our Redeemer is beginning a transition with at least three more staff members due to retire in the next three years. He said replacing that many good teachers will be a challenge, but he has confidence in the Lutheran colleges and the candidates they are producing.
“The Lord will always keep his ministry alive,” Reverend Rickman said. “He will always provide workers for his Kingdom.”
Rickman said the transition should be smooth considering all the new techniques and technologies new teachers bring to the table. New people and new innovation can be a good thing, he said.
“It will be very sad to go,” Becker said. “I hope they continue what we started.”
“It is not a beginning or an end,” she said. “It is the continuation of things to come.
Becker will be honored during the church’s second service June 2 and a coffee hour will be held in her honor. At 4 p.m. that day, a program will begin at Greenie’s Pavilion in her honor. Susan Rickman, who is also leaving Our Redeemer at the end of the year, will also be honored for her years of service.
“I thank God for the privilege of teaching at Our Redeemer,” Becker said. “I would like to thank the families and staff of Our Redeemer for their prayers, support and dedication to Christian education. To God be the glory.”
Becker added her favorite Bible verse: Psalm 113, Verse 3: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
