In Remembrance

Julia Christine Petersen died September 18, 2018 at St Mary's Hospital in Duluth, MN surrounded by family.

Julie was born to Bernard and Shirley (Misbe) Petersen on December 10, 1965 in Minneapolis, MN.  She was the first born and eagerly welcomed by her family into the world. She was a sweet child who was curious and active.  From an early age, she loved to play sports and excelled at soccer and basketball. She had a lot of friends through school and church who loved her and her sense of adventure and humor.

She graduated from Washburn High School in 1984 and attended one year of college at Marquette University in Milwaukee. After deciding that college was not the direction she wanted to go, she set out to find a job and went to work for Walser Buick Isuzu.  Starting as a receptionist in that first dealership, Julie would eventually work in finance, sales and management in many of the dealerships throughout the Twin Cities.  She was a skilled saleswoman and possessed a wide understanding of cars and the industry that benefited her customers and employers.

Julie continued to love sports and for many years got season tickets to the MN Timberwolves games for her and her father. She enjoyed her private time, but was also a social person, making friends and sharing her love of life wherever she went. She was, as her friend Bob recently wrote, "a woman who made sarcasm into such a high form of art, you had to stand in awe of her subtlety." She was a generous and thoughtful friend and family member who would not hesitate to offer a ride, cook a meal, or give a cat to just about anyone who thought they might need one. She was a crazy cat woman - with always a feline companion or two lurking about.

Julie was beautiful and men loved her (who wouldn't when she could talk football and cars better than most of them), but her true love came later in life when she met Matthew Bonner. They had become engaged to be married in 2017, and were hoping to eventually marry in Las Vegas.  But family losses and health issues conspired to delay the union. Matthew's love of her is clear to everyone who knew them.

Julie struggled for many years with liver disease and when she went into the hospital a few weeks ago, she told us unequivocably "I am not dying." She was private about her illness and hated people to "come and stare" at her during visits. So it was not until things got really critical that her close family gathered around her in Duluth where she was getting care. Her last moments were incredibly peaceful and our hope that she felt held and loved by all those who were there and could not be.

Julie is preceded in death by her father, Bernie and mother, Shirley.  She is also preceded by her many loved cats, especially Missy and Jones, who were so important in her life.  She leaves behind her fiance, Matthew Bonner, her younger sister Kari Petersen, her aunt Diane Petersen, aunt and uncle Nancy and David Meyer, and uncle and aunt Darryl and Joy Christensen, as well as many cousins and many more friends. And, of course, she leaves two beloved kitties, Spook and Tigger.

A GoFundMe Campaign is available to help pay for final expenses at https://www.gofundme.com/julie-petersen039s-final-expenses .  Or please feel free to honor Julie with a donation to the Humane Society or other charity of your choice.