Judith Kay Vakoc

Judith Kay Vakoc, age 80, of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2025, with her daughters by her side. She suffered unexpected complications following a heart procedure. A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South – Fort Dodge. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at North Lawn Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family. Arrangements are with Historic Bruce Funeral Home of Fort Dodge. 

Judy was born in Algona, Iowa, on October 28, 1944, to Omar and Ella (Wetzel) McMahon. The family moved to Fort Dodge where she attended public schools. She met and fell in love with her late husband, Robert Vakoc, Jr., and they married on March 31, 1962. Robert and Judy were married for 36 years and had three children.

She was a loving stay-at-home mother who served as room mother for her daughters’ classes and led their Brownie and Girl Scout troops. She later opened and operated the Fashion Rack in downtown Fort Dodge and later Paramont Furniture with her husband. When he passed in 1998, she moved to Kansas and then to Florida, to be closer to her eldest daughter.

Judy doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would spend countless hours playing board games with them, dressing Barbies, making crafts, attending their sporting events, music assemblies, and plays. She also found joy in researching the family tree, watching action-adventure movies, and giving belly rubs to her granddogs.

She is survived by her daughters, Robin Willard (Sharon Bunge) of Sun City Center, Florida, and Regina Porter (Scott) of Waterloo, Iowa. Also surviving are grandchildren, Morgan Haulbrook-Bleigh (Michael and Bryan) of Castro Valley, California; Kayla Craig (Jonny) of Waterloo; Robert Willard (Grace Klein) of El Cerrito, California; and Nathan Porter (Hannah) of Waterloo. Her five great-grandchildren are Evelyn Haulbrook-Bleigh, Joseph, Asher, Eliza, and Abram Craig. She is also survived by her brothers, Jerry and Kenneth McMahon. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son, Robert Vakoc III.

Judith was a loving and supportive wife, devoted mother, and grandmother with extraordinary strength, warmth, and kindness. Her love and laughter will be dearly missed…and forever cherished.