Judith Ann Pomes

Judith Ann Pomes – MILWAUKEE – Joined her loving husband William on Monday, July 14, 2025, at the age of 87. Loving mother to Michael and James (Nancy) Pomes. Proud grandmother of Jennifer, Matthew, Andrew, and Benjamin.

Judith was the adopted daughter of Clarence and Hattie Maloney. Her family moved extensively during her youth, with her family finally settling in Milwaukee where she attended Washington High School. She went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduating in June 1960 as part of the first class to start and graduate from UWM. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Lower Elementary Education with a minor in Art and was selected for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement because of her grades.

Her friend Joan introduced her to William Pomes as both had recently lost their parents. They fell in love and were married in June, 1960 and spent the next 59 years together until Bill passed away in early 2020.

Judith taught elementary students in Milwaukee Public School system until Michael was born in 1963. When the boys were older, she volunteered at Mother of Good Counsel, their elementary school. Judith was a member of the Home and School Association, ran used book sales and published a guide to TV appropriate for kids. For nine years she ran a remedial math tutoring program at MGC to help struggling students. After her boys left home, she became a preschool teacher at Grandma’s House.

Judith was a founding member of the Brown Bag Lunch group for five years. She was a member of the Wauwatosa Woman’s Club as well as the West Suburban Association University Women. Judith was a Girl Scout in her youth, and although she never had daughters, for three years she volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Cadet Scouts. She helped plan trips when her boys were Cub Scouts in Pack 61 at MGC.

Judith was a planner, so she created detailed vacation itineraries using the Mobil Travel Guide. She and her family explored almost every attraction small or large in Wisconsin and adjacent parts of Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa. On a trip to Iowa, the boys captured a leopard frog and kept it in an ice bucket in the motel. Judith was unflappable when she and Bill returned to the room that night to her boys awake trying to recapture the frog which had escaped the ice bucket. Vacations included closely observing live cicadas, riding trains with her son Jim, and carefully observing rock formations with her geologist son, Michael. She passed on her adventuring travel spirit on to her boys.

For three decades Judith was a docent at the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee. She was proud of the historical facts she shared during her tours.

Making art was an important creative outlet for Judith. She created large stitcheries when her kids were young, then sewed aprons, stuffed animals, and Christmas stockings for her kids and grandchildren. Judith took art classes at LaFarge Adult Learning, the Palette Shop, Milwaukee Art Museum, Mount Mary College Adult Learning, and the Wauwatosa Hart Park Senior Center. She was a member of Closet Crafters for fifteen years where fellow members taught each other to make different craft projects. She created many beautiful pencil drawings and watercolor paintings during these classes. She continued her love of art at St. Anne’s by actively practicing in every craft activity offered, proudly showing them off when family visited. She regularly visited many local art museums including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Grohman Museum, the Museum of Wisconsin Art, the Kohler Art Center, and the Racine Art Museum. Her artistic abilities can be seen in her sons and grandchildren.

A lifelong Catholic, Judith attended Mass at least weekly. Her faith was an inspiration to all who knew her. She volunteered for Interfaith visiting seniors on a weekly basis.

Judith and Bill moved from their Milwaukee home on Carlton Place to St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus in 2016. She loved to visit the koi pond located in the St. Anne’s garden, carefully observing the fish as they swam about and fed at the surface. Judith loved to point out the Lego Christmas house her grandsons built for her.

Judith always loved to sing and joined a local Wauwatosa singing group, Choral Tapestry “A Community Chorus.” She sang in the Woman’s Choir at Hart Park. In recent years at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, she joined the Glee Club, religiously attending their Monday practices and smiling broadly during their afternoon concerts every few months. We wondered if Judith would enjoy the rock cover band performance at the Whitefish Bay Great Pumpkin Festival last Fall. She sat up front, tapped her feet, and danced to the music in her wheelchair as she flirted with the lead singer. Judith passed along her love of music to her sons and grandchildren.

She also loved outings to art shows and galleries, musical performances, museums, custard stands, and gelato shops. Chocolate was her favorite gelato flavor. She was known to start her meal with dessert, much to the chagrin of her boys who were never permitted to do so in their youth. Judith would just slyly grin at her family when they commented. She also loved excursions along the Milwaukee Lakefront and to Veteran’s Park to fly kites with her family. When the weather was not as nice, Judith enjoyed trips to the Domes to see flowers and model trains.

Judith received many compliments while wearing her favorite yellow jacket and her extensive collection of classy and distinctive hats.

A Memorial Gathering will take place at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus Chapel, 3800 North 92nd Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM until time of Memorial Mass at 10:30 AM.

Memorials appreciated to University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Foundation.