Judith Ann Wardell was the firstborn child to Fred and Lucille Wardell of Romulus, Michigan on May 19, 1936. She has two younger sisters, Phyllis (Jim) Myers and Susan (Parks). Judi came to a saving knowledge of Christ as Savior as a young teen and was active in church and Youth for Christ. She always loved to sing and learned the Bible well. She attended a year at a Baptist Seminary after High School, and then Moody Bible Institute. At Moody Bible Institute she studied music and the Bible and met her husband Bruce who noticed her when the Bible teacher would announce the best scores on the exams and continued to call out her name. They married on August 17, 1958, in Michigan and moved to Seattle, WA for more schooling at Seattle Pacific College. Once there they began serving in Emmanuel Tabernacle under pastor Lloyd Peterson as the Christian Education Directors/Youth leaders and church janitors.

Judi and Bruce had four children in rapid succession, Kathy (Jim) Molenkamp; Keith (Kimberley) Kemper; Ken (Kathy) Kemper; and Kris (Cheryl) Kemper. They balanced the family and ministry at Berean Bible Church in Shoreline, and later took the pastoral lead in other churches in Spokane, WA, Anaheim, CA, Port Orchard, WA.  In 1990, Bruce accepted the presidency of Grace Bible College (now Grace Christian University) in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they served until Bruce's retirement in 2003. Judi returned to college in the 1990's and earned her Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Grace Bible College in 1995.

Judi was the ultimate pastor wife, who sang, hosted guests, taught children and women and complemented her husband's calling with her own until Bruce preceded her to glory in 2017 while retired in Phoenix, AZ. Judi moved to Edmonds, WA to live with Keith and Kim Kemper for 6 years until recently moving to Grand Rapids, MI to be near daughter Kathy, and son, Ken and the care of a senior facility after some failing health issues.

Judi is the grandmother of 11 grandchildren: Jordan Bressler, Jessika (Adam) Peterson, Tom (Sarah) Molenkamp, Kaleb (Amber) Kemper, Mark (Megan) Molenkamp, Kenny (Alexandria) Kemper, Zechariah (Erin) Kemper, Kyle Kemper, Naomi (John) Caprari, Kourtney (Aaron) Smith, Kacey (Curtis) Baker and 21 great-grandchildren.

Judi is admired by her children and grandchildren for her perseverance amid great physical pain from arthritis from young adulthood which limited her abilities and made each day a challenge to live and move normally. She faced these with a good attitude and graciously ministered to others and trusted Christ for the hope that one day would give her a new body in a heavenly dwelling. She faithfully taught the Scriptures with a desire to each person to understand the Bible from a Pauline Grace perspective. She prayed faithfully for her children, grandchildren, missionaries, ministers, and others.

Judi graduated to glory on December 30, 2024, at Sunset Manor in Jenison, Michigan with her daughter Kathy and son Ken at her bedside. She loved others and was greatly loved. Well done, good and faithful servant.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on January 16, 2025 at Berean Bible Church, 2345 N 185th Street, Shoreline, WA 98133 at 1 pm in the afternoon, with fellowship time to follow where family can be greeted. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to encourage gifts to the Bruce and Judi Kemper Ministry Scholarship at Grace Christian University or checks designated to this scholarship and mailed to 1011 Aldon St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49509 in her honor.