Julie Halverson

Juliann "Julie" E. Halverson, 78, of rural Monona, IA, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the home of family, with those she loved by her side. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 23, from 1:00 PM –3:00 PM at the Zion United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall in Waukon, IA. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Juliann Ella Halverson was born July 26, 1947, at the Hall House in Waukon, the daughter of Ervin and Mildred (Brandsmeier) Miene. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ and graduated from Waukon High School in 1965. Through 4H, Julie met the love of her life, Jim (Gramps) Halverson. They were married on June 11, 1966, at Zion United Church of Christ. The couple began their married life in Cedar Rapids, IA, before returning to their farming roots and building a home together on their farm near Monona; a place that became the heart of their family's story.

Julie and Jim welcomed three children: a daughter in 1969, another in 1974, and a son in 1980. In 1999, after their youngest graduated, they sold their dairy herd and shifted their focus to raising beef cattle. Julie also followed her lifelong love of dogs, beginning a joyful chapter of raising puppies; a passion she nurtured for many years.

In her "fabulous sixties," Julie embraced life with energy and a spirit of adventure. She loved traveling with her sisters, with trips that included Niagara Falls and even white-water rafting. She also enjoyed riding horseback, spending a day on RAGBRAI, and once delighted everyone by volunteering on stage during a comedy show. Julie found peace and joy in the outdoors and in life's simple pleasures: fishing, gardening, hunting mushrooms, picking blackcaps, and splashing in the creek with her grandchildren. She also cultivated a love of collectibles, especially porcelain dolls, proudly displayed in a room of their own. In the kitchen, her apple pies, blackcap pies, and cinnamon rolls became treasured family favorites, baked with love and remembered with joy.

She is survived by her three children: Jackie (Randy Nesbit) Halverson of Waukon, Jodie (Glenn) Manning of Waukon, and Jon (Elizabeth) Halverson of Monona; her nine grandchildren: Brandon (Abby) Bublitz, Breanna (Justin) Sommer, Hope (Spencer) Manning, Makayla Manning, Sabrina (Charlie) Manning, Whitney Manning, and Hayden, Hailey, and Harper Halverson; four great-grandchildren: Ethan and Evelyn Bublitz, and Jerrison and Janessa Sommer; her brother, Richard (Faith) Miene; sisters-in-law: Gloria Dertinger, Susan Hangartner, Sherry Bechtel, Gail (Jim) Connor, Kim (Kevin) Honn, and June Brandsmeier; and brothers-in-law: Jerry Halverson, Lynn (Sally) Halverson Jr., Al (Sandy) Halverson, and Ken Iseli; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Jim Halverson; her parents, Ervin and Mildred Miene; her brother, Arvey Miene; sister-in-law, Bonnie Iseli; and brothers-in-law: Jay, Scot, and Tony Halverson, Don Hangartner, and Dean Bechtel.

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