Julia Claire Thorleifson
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On March 2, 2022 @ 3:48 pm In 2022,Obituaries | 25 Comments
Julia Claire Thorleifson, 73, of Carver, MN, died on March 1st, 2022, almost five years after being diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. She lived a life filled with love and light, touching many.
Julie was born on March 17, 1948 to Freeman and Mary Claire Thorleifson in Bottineau, ND, the second of four daughters in the family. Julie graduated from Bottineau High School in 1966, and went on to study at Minot State University, graduating first with a BS in Education and then a MS in Special Education.
Although Julie spent her career in the field of special education, she had a strong parallel calling in theatre arts. She was one of the founders of the Sawmill Playhouse summer theatre at Lake Metigoshe near the Peace Gardens in North Dakota and played numerous lead roles there, at Minot State, and throughout her life in church and civic performances.
Julie’s career was spent mainly in Mankato, MN, at Franklin, Jefferson, and Kennedy Elementary Schools, where she guided and taught special education students. Julie met her husband, Dean Muesing, in Mankato where they married in 1981 and had two children: John and Claire. Julie retired at 60, spending time with friends and family in Mankato until last year when she and Dean moved to Carver to be closer to their growing family.
Julie’s interests were eclectic: theatre, music, art and photography projects, singing in the Centenary United Methodist church choir, part-time work in retail (so she could continue to purchase beautiful clothes), and increasingly, time with her grandchildren.
Julie was preceded in death by her sister, Elisabeth, and her father, Freeman. Surviving is her husband, Dean Muesing, two children and three grandchildren: John and April Muesing (Peter) and Claire and Seth Schleicher (Evelyn and Theodore). She is also survived by her mother, Mary Claire Thorleifson and two sisters, Janet Streff and Sally Wilkins.
Services will be held on Thursday, March 10th at Ballard-Sunder in Shakopee at 2:00 pm. Visitation at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to your local food shelf or homeless shelter. One of Julia’s fondest missions was preparing and serving meals to the homeless via Holy Grounds.
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My condolences to Julie’s family! Julie was a great teacher and friend while we worked together at Kennedy Elementary. I was the principal her last few years at Kennedy! She was always so helpful and upbeat as a colleague .
So very sad to learn of Julie’s passing. Condolences to her family. No doubt I am one of many with fond recollections of Julie back in Bottineau in the 1960s and 1970s. Whether it was high school band trips, gatherings at the Thorleifson cabin at Lake Metigoshe, or seeing her talents and energies give life to summer theater productions the Sawmill Playhouse, we all seemed to be in the orbit of this creative, witty force. Special thoughts right now are also of Mary Claire, Janet and Sallie and of memories that we and many others hold dearly of Julie.
May God grant you comfort and peace with the passing of Julie.
It is a really tough thing to out live a Parent, even though that is the way our lives are designed. I am so glad that your daughter will now have indelible memories connected to her, and you too from your own and through your children. This is really damned hard, but I know that you will rise with those important things from your life with her and her life with your children. Rest and resonate with that, friend. You, and she, are and were loved.
Sending LOVE and sympathy to Dean, Claire and John! She loved her family and grandchildren so much! She was such an inspiration to SO MANY of us… both as a fellow colleague and most of all as a friend! I always appreciated her honesty and positive spirit at Kennedy! Very thankful to have had time with her over the years! ❤️
You are all nestled gently in my thoughts and prayers. To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is to never die. Rest in peace, Julia.
Thinking of your family and sending peace and love.
The world lost a beautiful person on March 1. Julie’s life impacted so many people! We feel your loss, as we remember her many accomplishments, her caring spirit and how she brought light into the room whenever she arrived.
I have so many fond memories of Julie while we attended Minot State College. She was talented, funny and full of life. We kept in touch on and off through the years. She will be missed so much by so many.
Such a bright light. We were fellow drummers at Bottineau High School. So sorry for your loss.
So Sorry for your loss . I never had the privilege to meet Julia but know she had to be a special kind of person and one of a kind just like her Daughter.
My deepest sympathies to Julie’s family. She was an inspiration to all and had one of the most loving hearts I’ve ever known. Love to you all and Julie, you will be so missed. Heaven gained an angel for sure.
Knowing Julie was to love Julie! She madras an impact on District77, Centenary Methodist Church, students and colleagues. Her smile was infectious and she will be missed!
Dearest Claire and family,
Deepest heartfelt condolences for your loss of your most precious mother.
Please take care,
Suzanne
Dearest Claire and family,
Your mother’s smile – which you share – shows a loving, spirited woman. Losing a parent is devastating, causing the world to wobble. Thinking of you as your grieve; and also, as you celebrate your mother’s incredible life and the legacy she has created in her family.
Be gentle with yourself on this long journey.
Love, Collette
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. It was my privilege to direct Julie in the Centenary Choir and to work with her with Merely Players. What a wonderful person.
I had the honor of teaching with Julie at Jefferson Elementary in Mankato. A more caring and gifted teacher and just plain beautiful person just doesn’t exist. Peace and love to the whole family.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family. God speed in giving them peace. Love to all Keith and Nancy Eilbert
My heart is so saddened. Julie was a choir buddy and friend, filled with laughter, love and good sense. Love & hugs to Dean & family.
Dean, Prayers for you and your family.
I loved working with Julie at Kennedy Elementary School. Julie taught me as much as she taught the students–always with compassion. One time I showed Julie a letter I had written in anger to someone about something I thought was a great injustice. She read it, looked at me, and said, “Don’t send it.” She helped me rise above the temptation and it was a lesson I have kept in my heart all these years. Julie had a aura of hope and love which spread around to those who worked with her and to our students. I am forever grateful. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Our condolences to Dean and family. Hard to find a more sincere spirit in this world than Julie! She will be missed.
Linda Kilander and Dave Pengra
My sympathy to Julie’s family, I am so sorry for your loss.
Julie loved the children she worked with, and dearly loved her family as well.
I am so grateful to have worked with Julie in the Kennedy resource room for several years. She was dedicated, and knew what was needed when teaching and supporting special education children and their families. She was an inspiration to us all, not only as a colleague but as our friend.
Julie will be greatly missed…she was a special lady! May your memories comfort you during this difficult time.
With love and sympathy, Deb Salzwedel
I’ve just learned of Julie’s death, and want to send my deepest sympathy. She was always so positive and loving to everyone. I’ve missed her greatly since you moved to the Cities, and have been praying for you both. Yours in Christ, Margery
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Sending love to all as we celebrate a beautiful soul.