Judy (Juhnke) Branham

Published 10:26 am Friday, June 13, 2025

Judy (Juhnke) Branham passed away peacefully at home on June 8, 2025, after a valiant battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. Judy was born in Austin, MN on April 20, 1970. She graduated from Austin High School and went on to earn her BA from St. Cloud State University and her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. As someone who recognized early on the enormous implications of the intersection of technology and the law, she leveraged her technological acumen and legal training to become a highly-respected consultant in the fields of digital forensics, e-discovery, privacy, and cybersecurity. Grateful for those who had mentored her along the way, she “paid it forward” by taking every opportunity to mentor and champion other women in the professional world. She also served on the board of RECLAIM!, an organization that provides mental health support to LGBTQIA+ youth.

But Judy’s pride in her career accomplishments was nothing compared to what she felt for her family. Her wife Pam was the love of her life, her “soulmate.” Together they had two amazing children, Max (11) and Grace (8), who have lost their beloved “Mama” much too early. Judy was also a wonderful friend—loyal, kind, generous, and with a wicked sense of humor that didn’t fail her even as she dealt with her devastating diagnosis. She was always there when a friend needed her, and in turn, her many friends rallied around her and her family, becoming their “village” during her final months. Judy always believed, as is written in I Corinthians 13, that among the qualities of faith, hope, and love, “the greatest of these is love.” It was love that she learned from and shared with Pam and her children, and it was their love and the love of her friends that sustained her to the end.

Judy was preceded in death by their daughter Eleanor (“Ellie”) Branham, and her father Robert Juhnke. In addition to Pam, Max, and Grace, Judy is survived by her mother Joan Juhnke, her brothers James (Deb) and Terry Juhnke, her nieces Jennifer Lau and Jessica (Brad) Karge, and her great-nephews Oakley and Hunter Karge.

A celebration of life will be held this summer. To help with the support of Pam and their children, a fund has been established through the financial planning firm Roya Moltaji, LLC. Anyone who wishes to donate to this fund can do so by check made payable to “NFS” with the following entry on the memo line: “FBO Pamela Branham ME8-123199.” The check should be sent to Roya Moltaji, LLC, 100 S. 5^th St., Suite 2300, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Alternatively, donations in Judy’s memory may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, RECLAIM!, or donor’s choice.