Julie Ketelsen 10/12/2022

Our dearly loved and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Julie Ann Ketelsen, 73, of Parkville, Missouri, entered heaven on October 12, 2022, after a 10-month battle with cancer.  Julie’s faith in Jesus Christ was the touchstone which motivated her gentle and friendly spirit.  Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.  Born August 7, 1949, in Marshalltown, Iowa, Julie was the daughter of Dale and Rita Figgins.  She grew up in State Center, Iowa, and graduated from West Marshall High School in May of 1967.  Julie attended Mount St. Claire College in Clinton, Iowa, for 2 years and then transferred to Iowa State University where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1971.  She met her husband, Lee Ketelsen, at Iowa State, and they were married on March 6, 1971.  Julie taught 3^rd grade at the elementary school in Gilbert, Iowa, during the 1971/1972 school year while Lee finished his senior year in Aerospace Engineering.  Julie taught full time until son Mike was born in 1975.  Because of the vagaries of the aviation business, the ensuing years saw them reside in Kansas City, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Naperville, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa.  Their last move was in 1989 when they returned to the Kansas City area, building a home in Parkville, Missouri.  During Lee’s flying career Julie diligently looked after the family while he was away, encouraging faith, emphasizing learning, and coordinating family meals and the children’s sporting activities.  She returned to teaching as a substitute in the Park Hill School District as her children grew older and Julie was a favorite of many teachers due to her reputation as a dedicated professional.  Julie was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Platte Woods, Missouri, where she taught for decades in their Sunday School and Weekday School.  She was named Outstanding Volunteer Teacher of the Year by the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in 1999. Julie also enjoyed singing in the church choir.  In 2012 Julie and Lee purchased a second home in Arizona and were blessed to enrich their faith and develop a new circle of Christian friends at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West.  One of Julie’s favorite hobbies was going to the gym, both in KC and in Arizona, where she enjoyed participating in various aerobics classes and making many friends along the way.  Julie excelled at cooking and baking, and she often enlisted the assistance of her grandchildren.  Lee and Julie were blessed to take many memorable trips together including Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Mexican Riviera cruises and land excursions to France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Holy Land.  Julie also enjoyed soaking up the sun by a lake or pool and she was quite an accomplished water skier.  Julie is survived by her husband, Lee, her sons Michael (Kelly) of Parkville, Missouri, and Patrick (Carey) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, her daughter Katie (Jason) Hester of Parkville, Missouri, her brother James (Nancy) Figgins of State Center, Iowa, her sister Jill Rastrelli of Stevenson, Washington, her sister Janet (Craig) Arjes of Hopkinton, Iowa, and grandchildren Ali, Conley, Carsen, Campbell, Carter, Minnie, and August.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 21, 2022 at Christ Lutheran Church 6700 NW 72nd St, Platte Woods, MO.   A funeral service celebrating Julie’s entry into heaven will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Christ Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Gladstone, MO.  In lieu of flowers, and considering Julie’s love of teaching, memorials may be directed to Our Savior Christian Academy, www.oursavioracademy.org with campuses in Platte City and Smithville, MO.  Memories of Julie and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.