Obituary

Judell Ann Harrsch was born August 16, 1938 in Missoula, Montana to Mondell and June Metz. She passed away the evening of July 4th, 2017 at 78 years old. She grew up in Polson, Montana on Flathead Lake, and graduated from high school in 1956. She attended nursing school training in Miles City, Montana in 1956, and briefly worked as a nurse’s aide, and in the fall of 1958 worked as a copywriter for a local radio station.

She met her first husband Jack Dulong while working at the radio station in Missoula, Mt. They married in Polson, Montana at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 10, 1959. They had two children Sharon Annette and Jack Clifford, and lived in several towns and states including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Wyoming before moving to the San Diego area.

Judell and Jack started a wrestling club in the early 1970s in California. It soon grew to become the Amazon, and began a way for women’s combative sports. Judell helped pioneer women’s wrestling and she was an inspiration to people across the world, paving the way for women’s wrestling to be recognized as an Olympic sport.

In her later years, she remarried a man named Keith Harrsch. They moved to Washington to be closer to family. They also lived briefly in Alaska until Keith passed away from illness.

Judell returned to Washington State and spent her last years working as a care-giver for DSHS, and Hospice. She is remembered for her supportive caring nature and her strength as a woman. She loved family and loved being a grandma. She had a witty and sarcastic sense of humor that she carried with her to the end.

Her final wishes were for everyone to laugh and love in her honor and for her ashes to be spread where she grew up in Finley Pt, Montana.

Judell is predeceased by her husband Keith Harrsch, her parents June and Mondell Metz, brothers Mondell, John, Leo and sister-in-law Betty. She is survived by her brother James Metz, children Sharon Watt and Jack Dulong, step children Liz Harrsch and Amanda Mckinnon, her grandchildren Jacqynette Shook, Joshua Watt ad Sky Dulong, and lots of nieces, nephews and cousins.