Julie Lynn Hansen
November 9, 1957 — June 2, 2021
Julie Lynn Hansen, 63, of Cedar Rapids passed away with family by her side Wednesday, 2 June 2021 at Meadowview Village as a result of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Julie was born on November 9, 1957 in Madison, Wisconsin to Nancy L. (Bennett) and Russell M. Hansen. Julie was born two months premature – something that she was quick to bring up whenever there were chores to be done, but, otherwise, never slowed her down. Her family moved to Marion, Iowa in 1960 and she grew up on the south side of Marion among her many friends, riding bikes and horses, spending the summers at the Thomas Park swimming pool and roaming “the bluffs.” Julie had a soft heart for animals of all kinds, from her first cat, Albin, and her dog Alex, to her horse Heidi and all the rest, she loved them all. Julie attended Marion Independent Schools from kindergarten through her graduation in 1976. She was confirmed at Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion. She earned her BA at the University of Iowa. She worked at various times teaching in the Cedar Rapids, Linn Mar and College Community School Districts, Focus preschool, and also worked at her mother’s Town Square Bookstore in Marion.
She was married on 10 January 1981 to Bret Nilles in Marion, Iowa. They later divorced. In 2006, Julie met and fell in love with Craig Novak. Together they happily traveled the U.S. from coast to coast, attended concerts and Vegas shows, zip-lined and go-karted, and, although, a Hawkeye at heart, Julie even found FUN at ISU football games (at least the tailgating with friends part).
Julie was a homemaker for many years, raising and loving her two daughters, Emma and Claire. She really, really loved her girls, with every cell in her being. She wanted to do everything JUST right for them and encouraged them in their interests whether it was playing the guitar or learning to dance.
Julie was smart, beautiful, deliberate, adventurous, sometimes exacting and sometimes unpredictable. She knew just the right amount of trouble to get into. Julie was lovely and naturally good at most everything she tried.
Julie was predeceased by her father, Russell M. Hansen, her grandparents Blaine and Clara Hansen and Edward and Eleanor Bennett.
Julie is survived by her mother, Nancy L. Hansen; daughters, Emma (Ryan) Amelon and Claire Nilles; grandson, Blaine Amelon; her long-time partner Craig Novak; her sisters, Marjory Hansen, Jenny Hansen, Anne (Matt Swanson) Hansen, and Karen (John) Clark-Hansen; her aunt Barbara Van Wagner and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all of whom who will remember her with great love and fondness.
Julie’s family is grateful to the Meadowview Village staff and the St. Croix Hospice staff for all their kindness and care given to Julie as she made her way through her last months.
The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 28, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home with inurnment to follow at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion. Due to the current health concerns, per family request, face masks, properly fitted, will be required at the funeral home and social distancing is encouraged. A livestream of the memorial service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Julie, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Please share a memory of Julie at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Memorials may be made in Julie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Area Agency on Aging, Horizon’s Meal-on-Wheels program or the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation in Iowa City.
Julie was born on November 9, 1957 in Madison, Wisconsin to Nancy L. (Bennett) and Russell M. Hansen. Julie was born two months premature – something that she was quick to bring up whenever there were chores to be done, but, otherwise, never slowed her down. Her family moved to Marion, Iowa in 1960 and she grew up on the south side of Marion among her many friends, riding bikes and horses, spending the summers at the Thomas Park swimming pool and roaming “the bluffs.” Julie had a soft heart for animals of all kinds, from her first cat, Albin, and her dog Alex, to her horse Heidi and all the rest, she loved them all. Julie attended Marion Independent Schools from kindergarten through her graduation in 1976. She was confirmed at Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion. She earned her BA at the University of Iowa. She worked at various times teaching in the Cedar Rapids, Linn Mar and College Community School Districts, Focus preschool, and also worked at her mother’s Town Square Bookstore in Marion.
She was married on 10 January 1981 to Bret Nilles in Marion, Iowa. They later divorced. In 2006, Julie met and fell in love with Craig Novak. Together they happily traveled the U.S. from coast to coast, attended concerts and Vegas shows, zip-lined and go-karted, and, although, a Hawkeye at heart, Julie even found FUN at ISU football games (at least the tailgating with friends part).
Julie was a homemaker for many years, raising and loving her two daughters, Emma and Claire. She really, really loved her girls, with every cell in her being. She wanted to do everything JUST right for them and encouraged them in their interests whether it was playing the guitar or learning to dance.
Julie was smart, beautiful, deliberate, adventurous, sometimes exacting and sometimes unpredictable. She knew just the right amount of trouble to get into. Julie was lovely and naturally good at most everything she tried.
Julie was predeceased by her father, Russell M. Hansen, her grandparents Blaine and Clara Hansen and Edward and Eleanor Bennett.
Julie is survived by her mother, Nancy L. Hansen; daughters, Emma (Ryan) Amelon and Claire Nilles; grandson, Blaine Amelon; her long-time partner Craig Novak; her sisters, Marjory Hansen, Jenny Hansen, Anne (Matt Swanson) Hansen, and Karen (John) Clark-Hansen; her aunt Barbara Van Wagner and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all of whom who will remember her with great love and fondness.
Julie’s family is grateful to the Meadowview Village staff and the St. Croix Hospice staff for all their kindness and care given to Julie as she made her way through her last months.
The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 28, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home with inurnment to follow at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion. Due to the current health concerns, per family request, face masks, properly fitted, will be required at the funeral home and social distancing is encouraged. A livestream of the memorial service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Julie, under “photos and videos or media,” starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Please share a memory of Julie at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Memorials may be made in Julie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Area Agency on Aging, Horizon’s Meal-on-Wheels program or the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation in Iowa City.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Julie Lynn Hansen, please visit our flower store.