Judd Michael Vance

Judd Michael Vance, 57, passed away July 2, 2026, surrounded by loved ones in Wichita, Kansas. He was born May 8, 1969, in Oswego, Kansas, to Billy Leon and Dorthea Sue (Eastland) Vance. He married Lisa Lynn Winter July 21, 2001, in Wichita. 

He grew up in Parsons, Kansas, and graduated from Parsons High School in 1987. He attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1993. He then moved to Wichita, where he worked for Bosch Home Comfort for 29 years, advancing from Principal Engineer to Staff Engineer and specializing in heat pumps. 

Judd tremendously enjoyed playing board games and made significant contributions to the Board Game Geek community, eagerly sharing his knowledge and passion for gaming through recording videos and developing Vassal modules. He also loved traveling with his wife and daughters, ultimately visiting 47 U.S. states and over 40 National Parks. He had a passion for learning and for sharing his knowledge with others, and he continually read about and expanded his knowledge of history, sports, music, science fiction, and comics. 

For years, he developed and refined his cooking skills by lovingly preparing meals for his family. He also volunteered his time coaching his daughters’ youth softball teams and serving his church’s AWANA program. Other activities he enjoyed included bike riding, going on walks with his wife, and spending time with his dogs over the years. Judd was a passionate, intelligent, and thoughtful man who loved the Lord and loved others well. Above all, he was a beloved servant of Christ. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Vance, his daughters, Sara and Erin Vance, his father, Billy Leon Vance, Billy’s wife, Rosie Vance, his sister, Jan Vance, and his brother-in law, Brad Winter. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorthea Sue Vance, and his grandparents, Henry and Alice Dorthea Eastland and Billy Chester and Treva Vance. 

A memorial service celebrating Judd’s exceptional life will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 1:00 PM at First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita. We invite all who knew and loved Judd to join us in honoring his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Judd’s memory to First Evangelical Free Church’s Raising the Future (Student Ministry Building Fund).