Julie Gantner's Obituary
Julie Gantner “Julie Mae Fish” of Oshkosh passed away Friday February 5th, 2021.
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. Items she liked 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 gave to friends and family across the U.S during 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 store's achievements and 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.
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.
A memorial service is being held for Julie on August 13th, 2022 at 12 pm at First English Lutheran Church in Oshkosh. Friends and family are welcome to visit in advance of the service starting at 11 am.
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