Simply CremationJudy Ann Nantker
Judy A. Nantker, age 66 of Surprise, AZ died September 5, 2019 in Surprise, AZ. She was born September 22, 1952 to Frederick William and Fanny Morelle Nantker in Casper, WY and spent her childhood in the southwest. In 1966, she moved to California, where she first discovered her love of art.
She received her BA in Art from California State University at Los Angeles. Her first job was working as a textile designer and colorist. In 1978, she moved to Eugene, OR and continued working as a graphic designer. In 1981, she began painting on her own after being invited to exhibit in an All Artist Show for Talleria Sigala in Taos, NM. She also started Techstyles.
In 1983, she was accepted to participate for a major show in Eugene, OR at Designworks Gallery. She was nominated to submit a piece for the Mayor’s Invitational Art Show in Eugene the same year. Several successful shows followed and in 1985, Judy moved to Carpinteria. Her first show in this area was a One Woman show at Pitts and Bachman’s showplace office on Coast Village Road in Montecito. In 1986, she began working as the art director and was the main designer at Techstyles, a local sportswear company until 1998. Her T-Shirt designs have been extremely successful and have included designs for Budweiser, SeaWorld, The Smithsonian Institute, National Wildlife, major cruise lines and resorts all over the world. She also worked as a free-lance designer for Crazy Shirts of Hawaii, Techstyles, and others.
As her partner and spouse of 27 years, I celebrate her life today that would have been her 67th Birthday! We lived in Carpinteria from 92-03, then Surprised, AZ 03-19 where I still reside. Missing you with all my heart! Wendy
Judy, may you Rest in Peace……A fantastic and gifted artist and a one – of -a- kind woman!
I will forever keep you in my memory and in my dreams……Diane
I was just thinking of Judith over here in Australia, and saw this obit. It is her birthday today over here. I was sad to hear of her passage. I had often tried to find her through the years since we knew each other in SB, CA.
Judy was an amazing influence to me. I was 10 years her junior but she always had sage wisdom. I was the person running the crew who printed her amazing t-shirt art designs in the back. I was also at that Pitts and Bachman art show in Montecito in 1986. My father taught fine art at the college level so I knew good and bad art. Judy’s art was outstanding. There was a piece she hung in the techstyles hallway that I wanted to buy. she said “$700.” I could not afford it then. Then I asked her about it 10 years later and she said over the phone “$3000!” LOL then again, I could not afford it.
The best part of my remembrance of Judy was her quiet humility. But most impressionable was her discussion and counselling as I sought sobriety. Her words always resonated as I worked with her from 1985 to 1988. I left Santa Barbara in 1998 and lost touch with Judy, and did not get sober until 2007. I was sad to see that Judy passed, but she touched me, and so many others, in so many ways. Love and light to you Judy. We will meet again. Come visit me from your dimension if you can. I will know it is you as you speak to me through the silence.
Hi!
I’m Wendy Judy’s spouse! She was my soulmate and will never find another like her.
If you are interested in any of her fine art, let me know! I have to down size and her paintings are unbelievable and I know I can’t take all of them with me. Thank you all for your kind words! She was exceptional! I hurt ever day and trying to move on without her.