Julie GANTNER

August 15, 1962 - February 5, 2021

Julie Gantner “Julie Mae Fish” of Oshkosh passed away Friday February 5th, 2021 at 8:07 pm from complications of a heart attack. Julie was born to Fay Troudt and Charles Hoessel on August 15th, 1962 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She had two children between 1986 and 1990 that she raised in her family home with her parents and siblings. In 1997, Julie married Dale Gantner, who not only was her lifelong partner, but became a loving parent to her two children. Julie had a lifelong talent and passion for sewing, she worked for Oshkosh B’gosh for many years as a sewing machine operator. She proudly sewed her own wedding dress, all her bridesmaid’s dresses, and daughter’s wedding dress. In retirement, she made and sold sewing projects as a hobby business. Items she like to make included remembrance pillows of passed loved ones, bowl cozies, handbags and personalized embroidery towels and blankets. Julie also made at least 200 masks that she gifted to friends and family across the U.S during the the pandemic. After B’gosh, Julie worked part-time as a crossing guard where she enjoyed providing a safe crossing for students at Trinity Evangelical School and later Franklin Elementary School. She also enjoyed teaching Sunday school at First English Lutheran Church for a handful of years. Working with children gave Julie a lot of joy and provided her with a few stories to share with others, which is something that she loved doing. Julie worked at Wal-Mart in Oshkosh as a cashier for many years until retirement. She was a friendly and recognized face to many customers. For several years she coordinated the summer brat fry’s and Children’s Miracle Network donation campaigns. She was nationally recognized for leading her stores achievements an delivered a speech to present her stores success story. Julie was well known among her Facebook followers for her “Customer Moments of the Day”, where she would share comical and unusual interactions with customers at Wal-Mart during the day. She had hundreds of both heartwarming and hysterical stories to share. Julie enjoyed administrating a few Facebook groups. She kept memories alive and people connected on “Remembering Lloyd’s Lazy Lounge”, spreading kindness and positivity on “Pandemic Positivity”, she shared her sewing projects on “#juliemaefish” and finally “The Juli Diaries Chub Club” a platform to help motivate and inspire group members to achieve their weight loss goals. Julie and Dale enjoyed selecting and planting flower gardens to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. She loved seeing hummingbirds visit her yard and would spend hours birdwatching and patiently waiting for her “hummies” to visit. Julie had taken significant interest in our family’s history and spent many hours researching and finding connections on all sides of the family. In 2019, after years of searching, she received results from a DNA test and found her mother’s biological mother, a two-generation mystery. She was overjoyed to connect with her cousins Ellen Hohenstein, Carla Nelson, Kelly Gage who are children of her long-lost late aunt Mary Gage. In May of 2020, Julie became a proud grandmother to Casper Hoessel. “Grammie” was a role that she took very seriously. She spent every moment she could doting and loving on Casper. The love she had for him is beyond description, and he brought her so much joy and happiness. Julie will be greatly missed. She will always be remembered for her distinguishable laugh and sense of humor, her contagious fun loving and positive attitude, her generosity, kindness and compassion, and her deep love and commitment to her family and her unforgettable stories. She was preceded in death by her mother Fay Troudt, father Charles Hoessel, stepfather Lloyd Troudt, father-in-law, Donald Gantner, brothers John Troudt and David Troudt, nephew Eric Schumacher, Cousin Kathy Bowman and her loyal 4-legged companions Starr, Jack and Pickles. She is survived by her husband Dale Gantner of Oshkosh, her daughters, Jennifer (Ashlee) Ainsworth, Amy Hoessel, grandson Casper Hoessel, siblings James Troudt, Jeff (Kim) Hoessel, Steven “Tiger” Troudt, Kelly (Katie) Troudt, aunt Lois Bowman, cousins Chuck Bowman, Cindy Harris, Craig (Lee) Bowman , mother in-law Margaret Gantner, in laws Deb Gantner (Chuck Hunter), Mike (Beverly) Gantner, Ralph(Kathleen) Gantner, Sharon (Chris) Schumacher, niblings Theresa (Joel) Frei, Debbie (Dennis) Steed, Patty Menting, Donna (Treas) Howard, Michelle (Matt) Larson, Greg Gantner, Garry (Fran) Gantner, Doug (Sarah) Gantner, Dan Gantner, Laura (Scott) Suprenand, Jenna Schumacher, Amanda Gantner, Brandon (Lindsy) Schumacher, Jamie Hoessel, Madison Hoessel, Lidiya Larsen, Caiden Sarkla, Kai Troudt and her loyal 4-legged companion Jellie. Julie was survived by many more cousins, great niblings, cherished friends and loved ones. Due to the current pandemic situation Julie's funeral will be held at a later date. Donations in Julie's name may be mailed to the Poklasny Funeral Home (870 W South Park Oshkosh WI 54902) which will be forwarded to her family. From Dale, Jenni, and Amy, the reality of losing Julie has been difficult. With her sudden hospitalization, then hope of recovery only to then not have her survive has been devastating to all of us. During the past week we have been especially worried about immediate family coming together after a long year of isolation and social distancing and yet try to maintain distance at a memorial service. When we come together in grief, we want to reach out to one another and hug, cry, talk, and sit close. We want to do that, but do not want to risk anyone sharing Covid-19. In discussing this extensively, we have decided to postpone Julie's service for an extended period. We ask that you can bear with us as we walk through this adjustment of life without Julie and that we will notify all of you when we will be able to have a service for her. Hopefully on her memorial 2022. Dale, Jenni, and Amy appreciate your understanding and thank you for all the love and support you have gifted our family with since the day Julie was first admitted into the hospital. Hugs-kisses-love to all!