New GB crosswalk honors woman killed by car on Valentine’s Day

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A busy street on Green Bay’s eastside is much safer now for pedestrians thanks to a group of people determined to never see the tragedy that happened to their loved one repeated.

On Valentine’s Day, 82-year-old Judy Cisler was at one of her favorite restaurants Cranky Pat’s Pizzeria on Bellevue Street. As she was crossing the street, a car hit and killed her.

“She was a force, she was a matriarch, she took care of everybody so to be able to do something like this and to create a safe place for other people, it just makes sense,” said Dana Beining who is a family friend.

After the accident, Cisler’s family members and friends contacted Green Bay officials determined to find a way to make crossing that street safer for pedestrians.

Using American Rescue Plan Act funding, city officials were able to create a new crosswalk that goes across Bellevue Street. It leads from Cranky Pat’s parking lot to the actual restaurant.

“To be able to turn that tragedy into something positive and constructive for the community was something that came from the family,” said mayor Eric Genrich. “They were really interested in doing anything they could to enhance pedestrian safety and to celebrate her legacy with the installation of the bench.”

The crosswalk features ‘rectangular rapid flashing beacons.’ A pedestrian pushes a button at the crosswalk and lights begin flashing alerting drivers to stop for pedestrians.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation , rectangular rapid flashing beacons reduce crashes by 47 percent and can increase motorist yielding rates up to 98 percent.

A large crowd of Cisler’s family, friends, city officials, and community members showed up to the unveiling ceremony for the new devices on Thursday morning.

There’s also a memorial bench dedicated to Cisler in front of Cranky Pat’s restaurant.

“I’m sure everybody who crosses will see the bench in memory of her and it means so much to us and we just don’t want it (another tragedy) happening to anybody else,” said Cisler’s daughter Sue Spielvogel.

The owner of Cranky Pat’s was also at the unveiling ceremony. She said there’s lots of traffic on Bellevue Street and she thinks the new crosswalk is going to be a very positive thing for the community.

“I don’t know how to feel it’s great that this is here now and I think that it’s great that it’s going to be a safer neighborhood and a safer place, but the fact that a death had to happen is the bad part,” said Cranky Pat’s owner Sarah Veldkamp.

Tragedy transforming into something positive on Green Bay’s eastside as Sisler’s legacy lives on through the new crosswalk and the memorial bench.

Green Bay city officials tell Local 5 News that they plan to add additional pedestrian safety signals at over 60 crosswalks throughout the city.

The Cisler family had created a GoFundMe fundraiser for the crosswalk on Bellevue Street. They say any extra money they raised will go towards other safety projects in the city and that they will potentially make a scholarship fund in Judy’s name for high school students.

“Spread the word that it’s really vitally important for folks to look out for one another and slow down, pay attention, and be safe,” said mayor Genrich.

“Very emotional, to actually see it in place,” said Spielvogel. “We talked about it for months, we talked about the need for months. To see it and have cars stop is just heartwarming.”

“When something like this happens,  you feel very helpless,” said Beining. “We decided that we’re not going to be helpless we’re going to do something about it and make a positive change.”

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