Judy Heilman Konop

Judy Heilman Konop, 74, of Fountain Hills, AZ, went home to heaven on December 9, 2025, after an extended battle with cancer. She looked forward to seeing Jesus and loved ones in heaven.
Though born in Oakland, CA, Judy was raised on a dairy farm in rural northern Minnesota where the love of nature captured her heart at an early age. After completing high school and some college in Bemidji, MN, she moved to the Twin Cities. Much of her work life was in the service fields of healthcare, restaurants and transportation customer service.
Judy loved to travel. On a whim she enrolled in semi-truck driving school in 1985 to “see the world.”
After getting her fill of life on the road, she joined the Operations department at Transport Corporation of America in Eagan, MN, where she worked for over 30 years. In retirement, cruises, train rides, short adventures with friends and finally a pilgrimage to Germany where her family was from filled her need to travel.
Judy and Gale J Konop met while attending trade school and were married in 1987. They lived in Rosemount, MN until they retired. They moved to Arizona in 2014; both were tired of the cold winters.
Gale passed away on May 21, 2016, leaving a huge void in the lives of his children Jessica, Jennifer and Joel.
Judy could have deep heart-to-heart conversations with her friends. Thought to be a serious person by some, others thought she had a wonderful sense of humor.
Judy’s parents, siblings and husband preceded her in death, and she had no children of her own, so friends became family. When younger she sang tenor in her church choir. She was educated as a Spiritual Director, spending three years to grow deeper in her faith and service to God. As a widow, she kept busy serving in her church as a Stephen Minister. She served on the boards of two food banks and prepared food weekly to feed 100 homeless in Tempe with Friends Feeding Friends. Caring for others always seemed to include food, so love was often given in the form of a homemade soup or a casserole.
Judy requested that memorial gifts be sent to your local church or to the Mayo Clinic Foundation, since these organizations played such a critical role in her life.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Joy Church, 13430 N Saguaro Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ, on January 17, 2026, at 10 AM. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, a committal service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery, 2929 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Phoenix, AZ, at 10 AM. Following the committal service, Judy will be privately laid to rest with her husband Gale.