Julie was a creative at heart. She loved art of all kinds and nurtured her children’s passion for music, theatre, and visual art throughout her life. She was the go-to for colleagues who needed a creative idea or a good art project for their classroom.

As an empty nester, she revived her childhood passion for sewing and found a love of quilting-spending countless hours hand-stitching quilts for those she loved. She was an avid mahjong player, flower gardener, trip planner and get-together organizer. She was the queen of pillows, lists, and cookies. She loved a good book and taught her children to “be good at something, and finish.” Food was a love language for Julie handed down to her from her mother, and she blessed many with her gifts in the kitchen. She loved nothing more than to have loved ones gathered together for a meal or a holiday. Family meant everything to her and she cherished her role as grandma to Jana, Lia, and Max.

Julie was an active member of her community and church. In 2017, she and Dave helped to launch a pilot “Food for Backpacks” program in Albert Lea to feed local elementary students over the weekend, so that they could come to school better prepared to learn each week. Today, funded by donations and grants she continued to write while battling cancer, the Food for Backpacks program feeds more than 560 children in the Albert Lea School District each week in partnership with area churches and the district. Aside from her grandchildren, this was the legacy Julie was most excited to see grow.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Erling and Dorothy Haaland. She is survived by her husband, Dave, their children Emily (Jaret) Sievers of Sioux Falls and Eric (Laurén) Drommerhausen of St. Paul, and grandchildren Jana and Lia Sievers and Max Drommerhausen.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 30, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea, and prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Grace Lutheran.

Funeral services for Julie will be held on Saturday, December 2, at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Burial will take place following the service at Graceland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Julie’s family asks that you consider a memorial gift to the Food for Backpacks program (c/o Grace Lutheran Church) or a contribution to a memorial tree to be planted at Green Lea Golf Course.