Julie Grabowska

Julie Ann Grabowska, 63, of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND with her loving family by her side.
A gathering time for family and friends will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Johnson Funeral Service. The service to celebrate Julie's life will be 1:30 PM on Friday, May 5, 2023 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Thief River Falls.
Julie Ann Scheef was a 2.9 pound baby born October 20, 1959 in Gretna, NE the daughter of Jack and Marjorie (Ellinger) Scheef. She was baptized at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Gretna, NE and confirmed at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Goodridge, MN. Julie attended elementary school in Gretna until the 4th grade when the family moved to Goodridge, MN where she finished her education at Goodridge High School. Julie was Homecoming Queen, played in the band, was a wrestling cheerleader, played volleyball, active in 4-H and enjoyed sewing various items including her prom and wedding dress.
By age 12, Julie was working as a waitress at the Goodridge Café and saved her money to buy her first sewing machine.
Julie earned her Associate Degree in Accounting from Northland Community College in Thief River Falls.
On December 15, 1979 Julie was united in marriage to Donald Richard Grabowska at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Goodridge, MN, this being the first wedding held at the new church. Together they made their home in the Goodridge area, then moved to Thief River Falls. They were blessed with three boys, Christopher, Scott and Jeffery who Donnie and Julie nicknamed, "our three sons." and 3 daughters-in-law and 7 grandchildren.
During college, Julie started working at the Best Western in Thief River Falls in housekeeping and laundry. She then went to American State Bank in Grygla, MN, Northern State Bank in Thief River Falls and in 1998 began accounting work at Digi-Key where she has continued to work until her death.
Julie enjoyed stamping and hosting classes, making cards, kayaking, crocheting, ceramics, reading, gardening, canning, and traveling. Julie enjoyed traveling with Donnie, making trips to Montana, Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Aruba. Her favorite activity while traveling was relaxing on the beach, and helping her mom check items off her bucket list such as zip-lining, white-water rafting, parasailing, and horseback riding. Julie and Donnie took up wine making as a hobby and enjoyed sharing the fruits of their labor with friends and family. Above all, Julie loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Survivors include her loving children, Chris (wife Tracy, and children, Bristol and Paisley) of Fergus Falls, MN, Scott (wife JoLynn, and children, Jaxson, Charles, Zoey, and Noah) of Glenwood, MN, and Jeff (wife Kelly and son, Gannon) of Dickinson, ND; mother, Marge Scheef-Kosmatka of Homosassa, FL; brothers, Tom (Becky) Scheef of Belfield, ND and Mike (Tonie) Scheef of Warroad, MN; step-sisters, Mary Greer, Donna Galloway, Karen Anderson, Jackie Swank; step-brothers, Tom Kosmatka and David Kosmatka; special friends, Ginny and Lyndon Pream of Thief River Falls; her faithful companion, Willow; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Donnie in 2018; father, Jack Scheef; sister, Teresa Scheef; step-father Willie Kosmatka; father and mother-in-law, Albert and Bernice Grabowska; brother-in-law, Gerald Grabowska.