Julie Ortgies Raak

Julie Ortgies Raak, 73, died peacefully at her home in Ryan surrounded by her family on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held 11:00 Saturday morning, July 20, 2024, at the Stone Church, Manchester, Iowa with interment in the Prairie Hill Cemetery rural Monticello. Friends may call from 10:00 until 11:00 Saturday morning at the church. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello has taken Julie and her family into their care. Thoughts, Memories and Condolences may be left at www. goettschonline.com Julie Ann Ortgies was born February 18,1951 to Alvin and Laura Ortgies of Anamosa, Ia. She was the third child, younger sister to John and Richard and the older to her most beloved sister, Ruth. They grew up on a farm outside of Anamosa and have so many fond memories there, participating in 4 H and showing cattle at the Jones County Fair. She excelled through high school and has kept many friendships alive from those years. She attended Upper Iowa University upon graduation and received a teaching degree. Her first teaching job was in Shelby, Ia, moving shortly thereafter to Adair, Ia. It was in Adair that she met, Dave…a fellow teacher and farm boy from Northwest, Ia. They married in the summer of 1974 and soon welcomed three children, Eric, Paul and Laura. They settled as a family of five on the Raak family farm in Ireton. She left teaching to be at home with the children while Dave raised pigs and farmed. When she wasn't busy with the kids, she filled her time with gardening, canning, sewing and baking. When the children had all finished high school, and she had finished her masters degree in school counseling, she and Dave moved back East, to Ryan, Ia where Julie worked as a school counselor for North Linn High School. She loved teaching and loved her students well. She held that position until her retirement in 2014. In her retirement she loved spending time with her eldest granddaughter, Megan, quilting and supporting Dave in his woodworking endeavors. Finally, more grandchildren arrived, and she adored them as well. She and Dave would travel to visit them whenever their schedules allowed. Julie loved Jesus and wanted everyone to know about Him. Even in her final days, she pleaded with people to believe in Him, to repent of their sins because Jesus died for them. She loved her church family, the Stone Church. Her children often encouraged her to move closer to them, especially after Dave passed away, but she didn't want to leave her church family. She served in the children's ministry and attended Bible study and gave everyone the best hugs. Julie will be missed by so many, especially her children, Eric (Kristy Schwan); Paul Raak and his wife, Amber; Laura Van Loh and her husband Dan. Her five grandchildren, Megan, Gregory, Izzy, Isaac, and Jackson will miss her yummy cinnamon rolls, her vintage toys, her loving hugs, but most of all her presence in their life. She is survived by her brother Richard Ortgies, sister Ruth Engelken, five sisters in law, many cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Julie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, just five months ago. They'll be together again, in Glory. We mourn her loss, but not as those without hope. Please direct all monetary gifts to the Ryan Fire Department and the Stone Church in Manchester. Send checks directly to your desired location. The family requests no flowers or memorial gifts as they will begin the process of managing their parent's belongings.