GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The relatives of an elderly woman killed while crossing a Green Bay street are turning their grief into action.
Judith Cisler, 82, of Luxembourg, is remembered as the City of Green Bay government dedicated a new crosswalk with rectangular, rapidly flashing signals in the 700 block of Bellevue Street, where the Valentine’s Day accident occurred. Cisler’s husband was also injured in that accident.
It is an attempt to prevent further tragedies in the region.
“We honor our mother, grandmother, wife, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many,” said Sue Spielvogel, Judy’s daughter. “As many people know, my mother loved pizza. Especially Cranky Pat’s pizza. I’m surprised she and her sisters don’t have their own table here.”
The Cisler family and friends raised money and worked with the city to fund this new crosswalk near Cranky Pat’s. Rectangular, rapidly flashing signal lights alert drivers to people crossing and can cost between $12,000 and $15,000. They hope this crosswalk will serve as a constant reminder to keep each other safe.
“We’ve been talking about the needs for months. To finally see the cars stop when you press the button is just heartwarming,” Sue said.
Not only is there a zebra crossing in her honor, but there is now also a bench nearby as an additional tribute to Judy.
Any remaining funds from the project will be donated to other public safety initiatives and a scholarship may also be established in Judy’s name.
“I’m glad the crosswalk is there, and I’m very happy that it will now be safer for people to cross the street,” said Sarah Veldkamp, owner of Cranky Pat’s Pizzeria.
Even before the incident, there was community-wide pressure for a zebra crossing.
As we reported earlier this year, Green Bay Police had already identified East Mason Street near Bellevue Street as a priority area for law enforcement in February 2024, based on a Department of Transportation analytics tool.
Mayor Eric Genrich hopes this crosswalk is just the beginning of a broader effort to make Green Bay’s streets safer for pedestrians.
Judy’s family says the new crosswalk is more than just a safety feature, it also symbolizes their impact on the community.
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