Judith “Judy” Diane (Cranmer) Plagge, 89, formerly of Wichita, died July 19, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo.

She was born Jan. 10, 1937, in Conway Springs to William and Della Kaiser Cranmer, and grew up in a town that remained a treasured place to her all her life. On Aug. 17, 1957, she married Ernest Dean Plagge in Conway Springs. He was the love of her life and her partner in every way, and together they built a world entirely their own until his passing in 2005.

Judy earned her degree in music education from the University of Kansas in 1960 and taught for 60 years; first in the public schools, then in her own studio in Wichita from 1977 until her retirement in 2020. At the height of her studio, she taught 90 students a week, and more than 1,000 students received instruction throughout her career. A pioneer and leader in piano pedagogy, she served as =resident of the Kansas chapter of the Music Teachers National Association from 1992 to 1994, and launched the MTNA “Power of One” program to inspire young teachers to instill a lifelong love of music study in their students.

The essence of Judy’s teaching was her ability to find the unique way into each student and see each one as a whole person, rather than just a set of hands at a keyboard. Many students and parents will remember Judy in her studio, orchestrating the creative energy of a roomful of children across two grand pianos, three digital instruments, and a real pipe organ. She gave the love of creating to so many; she gave it with no strings attached, without expecting them to fit into a singular mold.

That same creative force ran through everything she touched. Judy was known for crafting beautiful interiors for her homes with the confidence to make bold choices. She was forever dreaming up the next project, from stained glass to landscape design, with Dean as her infinitely capable partner in execution.

Fiercely committed to giving those she loved experiences that matter, Judy was a loving mother and grandmother, dedicated daughter and sister, and enthusiastic friend. She was an avid student of the world’s philosophies, an independent thinker with a gentle exterior and a strong will.

After spending most of her adult years in Wichita, she returned to Kansas City, where she made beloved memories at the start of her married life and career. She was preceded in death by Dean; her parents; and her siblings, Ashley Cranmer, Mary Ellen Nice, and Jane Gross. She is survived by her daughters, Kristin Burling (Walt) of Partridge, and Erika Strandell (Joe) of Mission Hills, Kan.; and treasured grandchildren, Alixandria Grier (Ryan Lozano), Erik Burling (Madeline), and Blanka Strandell.

A service will be held in Wichita at a date to be announced. The burial will be at Conway Springs Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marguerite M. Miller Endowment Fund, MTNA Foundation Fund, 600 Vine St., Ste. 1710, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (www.mtnafoundation.org/contribute/).

Someone close to her once called her “the guardian of peaceful times.” The phrase resonates with her family, friends, students, and community members who found in her studio a place where they were seen whole and inspired. Her legacy of nurturing creativity and kindness will continue to influence many for years to come.