Julia Mae Walrath

Julia Mae Walrath, the daughter of John and Sophie (Raveling) Larson was born July 9, 1925 on a farm near Webb, Iowa.  She moved to a farm outside Peterson as an infant, where she received her education, graduating from Peterson Consolidated High School in 1942. After schooling, she worked for the telephone office.

Julia married Warner Walrath on November 28, 1943 at the lst Congregational Church in Peterson.  After their marriage, they settled on the family farm north of Peterson and farmed for 21 years.  During this time, they were blessed with the birth of four daughters.  They also resided in Primghar and Tipton, Iowa.  Warner retired in 1983 and he and Julia moved to Spencer, Iowa. 

Julia had many talents.  A couple that her family members especially enjoyed were cooking and sewing.  She baked hundreds or thousands of cinnamon rolls for her extended family.  They were quickly eaten and rationed out when we all arrived.  She was the hot lunch manager at Primghar Schools where the students thoroughly enjoyed her meals + again cinnamon rolls.  She also canned and froze many vegetables and fruits even into her 90’s.  She sewed many beautiful outfits for herself and her daughters.  She won several ribbons at the Clay County Fair.  She played golf for many years, enjoyed gardening, played bridge with her friends and enjoyed Sudoku.  Julia was active in the Congregational Churches where she lived.  She participated in circle, teaching Sunday school and volunteering for other activities as the need arose. 

Warner and Julia loved to travel, visiting many countries and states.  These included the Soviet Union, Europe, Hawaii and Alaska.  These trips often included visiting family members.  They wintered in Texas for many years where Julia appreciated getting away from the cold Iowa winters.  Although Julia always lived in the state of Iowa, her grandchildren and great grandchildren were born in:  Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, The Island of Guam, India, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.  She and Warner were proud of their diverse, global family.

Julia and Warner celebrated their 75^th Wedding Anniversary in 2018.  Julia passed away at St Luke Lutheran Home at Spencer, Iowa on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at the age of 95.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Warner in 2019, her three brothers:  Joe, Ralph and Lee Larson and her three sisters:  Minnie Hardman, Arlene Carstens, and Marjorie Nielsen and a son-in-law, Dr. John Marten.

Left to cherish her memory are her four daughters:  Judy Marten of Lafayette, IN; Marilyn Hansen (Norman Redd) of Littleton, CO; Ilene (Gary) Evans of Cottage Grove, OR and Diana (Bradley) Bern of Roxborough, CO; eight grandchildren: Brian Marten, Allen Marten, Colleen Caito, David Marten, Cliff Hansen, Eric Hansen, Michelle Bern and Matthew Bern; and 12 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 3^rd , 1 pm at the Warner Funeral Home Chapel in Spencer. Grave site services will be at 2 pm at the North Lawn Memorial Park, Spencer. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions we request that all who attend the visitation or burial service observe social distancing and wear face masks.  We hope to have a memorial for Julia next summer. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Upper Des Moines Opportunities, Inc., 2512 Highway Blvd., Spencer, IA 51301, or the charity of your choice. 

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