Julie was born in Illinois, grew up in Michigan and Iowa, and attended college in Wisconsin!  She has been very fortunate to come from a wonderful and loving family with two brothers and Mom and Dad. She had the good fortune to find a teaching position mid-year upon graduating from UW-Stout and taught Home Economics for four years.  She then married her husband, Dave, and they were thrilled to bring three daughters into their lives, all of whom have been very successful working,  and raising 7 wonderful grandchildren, who are very much loved by all of them!

She received her Master’s Degree in Reading at UW-River Falls and taught until she was contacted by St. Mary’s University, while working on her Doctoral degree in Administrative Licensure (Principal and Superintendent positions) to become the Assistant Director for the same program on the graduate level.  From there she was recruited by Hamline University to direct their program. That position was followed by a Principalship in Lakeville and a Charter school in Prior Lake-Savage, MN. 

She is now working on retirement and trying to learn what that means in life!  Working for O’Connell Family Funeral Homes has been a wonderful learning experience.