Judith Wanner

Judy Wanner 1943-2025, died October 31, 2025 Burlington Ontario, heart failure

Judith “Judy” Wanner’s life was defined by curiosity, courage, and compassion — qualities that carried her across continents, through history, and into the lives of countless students, colleagues, and friends.
 

Born in 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Judy grew up in a family that valued education. After graduating from university, she joined the Peace Corps .She was stationed in Turkey, where she taught school for two years and developed a lasting affection for the country and its people.
 

Upon returning to the United States, Judy taught in Philadelphia while completing her master’s degree at Temple University. Her fascination with the Middle East never waned, and after earning her degree she accepted a position as librarian at the American School in Beirut, Lebanon.
 

Those years in Beirut proved to be among the most formative and joyful of her life. Judy embraced the region’s rich cultural heritage and, together with friends, travelled widely — across Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, and even as far south as Sudan on a riverboat journey along the Nile. This was in the 1960s, when such a trip by young women was truly an adventure.
 

It was in Beirut that Judy met her future Canadian husband, Dwayne, at a dinner party hosted by mutual friends. They quickly discovered a shared curiosity about the world, a similar sense of humor, and a love of history. By the end of that first evening, the hostess had to remind them they were the last guests remaining. Together, they explored Lebanon’s ancient sites — Tyre, Byblos, and Baalbek among them. Dwayne often recalled one visit to Tyre, standing in the remarkably preserved Roman chariot arena and saying he could almost hear the sound of chariots racing. Judy, ever the realist, gently corrected him: that sound, she said, was the rumble of Israeli tanks a few kilometers away.
 

As civil war engulfed Lebanon in 1975, Judy and Dwayne returned to North America. They were married later that year in Minneapolis and settled in London, Ontario — marking their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
 

In Canada, Judy once again turned to education and librarianship. She completed a master’s degree in Library Science at the University of Western Ontario and joined Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture as librarian at the Vineland Research Station. Her talent for organization, teaching, and systems-thinking was soon recognized and when Vineland was merged into the University of Guelph, Judy was offered a faculty position and tenure. For 15 years, she guided graduate and doctoral students in the fundamentals of research, with a special focus on the effective use of scientific databases.
  Beyond her professional life, Judy was deeply engaged in civic and cultural causes. A committed member of Democrats Abroad, she worked tirelessly to encourage Americans living in Canada to register and vote. She and her friends became well-known fixtures at public events — often arriving with a papier-mâché donkey in tow to attract attention and spark conversation.
 

Judy was a passionate equestrian who competed at lower levels of dressage and as president of her local club was instrumental in organizing local competitions. She was admired for her dedication, fairness, and quiet leadership.
 

In retirement, she reunited with former Peace Corps colleagues for journeys to India, Turkey, and Egypt. She sought not just the scenery of a place but its story .
 

Judy combined practicality with elegance. She was always impeccably dressed and took equal care to ensure her husband was suitably attired. Her taste was refined yet never ostentatious; she valued substance as much as style. Those who knew her well often remarked that she was interested in everything — a true librarian’s soul,.
 

She was kind and thoughtful, but she also possessed a firm intelligence and a keen sense of discernment. She did not suffer fools gladly, though she treated everyone with courtesy.
 

There were few subjects Judy could not speak about with knowledge and grace. She brought insight and perspective to every conversation, always with wit, clarity, and warmth. Those who knew her will remember her not only for her intellect and accomplishments, but for her steadfast kindness, her independence of spirit, and her quiet sense of adventure — qualities that shaped a life lived fully and well.

To say she will be missed is to understate the depth of loss felt by all who knew her.”

Dwayne Wanner

She is survived by her husband Dwayne, 

Son Steve ( predeceased) daughter in law  Erin, grandchildren Jacob, Jessica, Jacey and Jackson, and her three siblings Janet, Robert, and Kenneth who reside in the United States..