July 21, 1940– July 1, 2025

Julia Joanne (Veldhuizen) Kreun was born on a hot, humid Sunday morning, on July 21, 1940, in a farmhouse near Woodstock Minn., to Case and Sophie Veldhuizen. She spent the next 18 years on that farm. One-room country school provided her early education, and she graduated from Pipestone High School in 1957. She married Carl Kreun in 1958, lived in Lawton, Okla, Chandler and Pipestone Minn, Sioux Falls, SD, and Hemet Calif. They raised four daughters – Karla, Pamela, Gail and Jody – in Pipestone. Six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren filled their lives with joy.

Julia spent many years as a secretary at her alma mater, volunteered in many civic and church organizations, 25 years riding her own motorcycle many, many miles, tandem skydiving at age 69, parasailing, and trying her hand at zip-lining.  She courageously fought multiple health challenges during the past year as a result of paraplegia due to a cancerous tumor which fractured her spinal column.  As a reflection of her dedication to future generations, Julia chose to participate in a clinical research study for multiple myeloma at the City of Hope National Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

Julia passed away on Tuesday, July 1. She was preceded in death by her daughter Karla, her parents, 6 brothers, and 2 sisters. She is survived by her husband, daughters, and grand/great grandchildren, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters.  Services will be held in Hemet, California, at a later date.