Julia Schlupp

Julia Lea Schlupp was born in Louisville, Kentucky and left this earth from Colorado where she and her husband lived for thirty-plus years in the southern foothills of the Rockies. She was a beacon of light in the lives of all who knew her, and her memory will be a treasure in the hearts of many. Her life was a testament to the beauty of giving, teaching, and loving unconditionally. She will be forever missed.

Julia graduated from high school in New Albany, Indiana and attended the University of Kentucky for one year.  Having always wanted to be a nurse, Julia transferred to Saint Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating from a three-year Registered Nursing program in 1967.  Julia completed her BS and MS degrees in nursing at the Minnesota State University Moorhead in the late 1970s.

Julia cared deeply for her family, friends, neighbors, and people in general. She did so not out of obligation, but because of who she was. Julia loved helping and working with people, and she always ensured that everyone around her was safe, healthy, and happy. She started her nursing career in New Albany Hospital in Indiana as an obstetrics nurse. During this time, she was encouraged to go on a blind date by her life’s best friend, Kathleen. Contrary to what her parents had warned her, “Don’t date a military man ...you will always be moving all over the country!” The blind date turned out to be a young Army man that was currently stationed at Fort Knox. On that fateful blind date, in September 1967, Julia met her soulmate, Larry. By November, he had proposed, and they were married on February 17, 1968, at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Louisville. After which, Larry decided not to stay in the military but continue his premilitary work in telecommunications.  Somewhat ironically and during their 56-plus years together, they moved “all over the country,” spending thirteen years in North Dakota, seven years in Omaha, Nebraska, one-and-half years in Minneapolis, close to five years in London, England and their last thirty-year residence and retirement in Colorado’s southern foothills at Perry Park Ranch west of Larkspur.

While living in North Dakota, Julia’s nursing career slowed during the birth of her two daughters, Amy (1969) and Nicole (1972).  When she was able to return to her career, she did so with dedication, starting with a nursing position at a care home in Bismarck then as an obstetrics nurse in Fargo at Saint John’s Hospital and teaching Lamaze techniques for the hospital. In Nebraska, Julia also worked with the Visiting Nurses Association and later as a school nurse in District 66 (13 schools) in Omaha.

Julia's hobbies were as nurturing as her career; she tended to her garden with the same care that she gave her patients.  Reading fueled her imagination, love of knowledge, and knack for teaching. She enjoyed travelling. From family vacations fishing in Minnesota to cruising the globe with her beloved husband, she loved discovering new places and collecting memories and pieces from everywhere she went. However, her truly favorite activities were more like passions. She always created such energy and love in everything she did. All her creations told a story from working with photographs, fairy gardening, silk flower arranging, scrapbooking, decorating the house for major holidays, and in the latter part of her life taking up glass work. She also loved to shop, from antiquing to clothes shopping, she could spend hours looking for the perfect buy. She loved life and made the most of it.

Julia had a knack for making friends easily and making all friends feel like her best friend. She also had a great love of animals, in particular, horses, cats, and dogs. Every animal she encountered was special and deserved all the love and respect she gave to everyone around her.

Julia was strong willed and stubborn at times, but she also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. She was generous, loyal, and brave. She was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all her life experiences. Julia was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, and friend who was always there when she was needed the most, offering support, wisdom, and love in abundance. Cherished and loved by many, she leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and strength. She will always remain in our hearts.

Julia was preceded in death by her mother and father, Anne S. and G. Douglas Hill, and her brother, Douglas. She is survived by her husband, Larry, two daughters, Amy Merz with husband Patrick, living in Castle Rock, and Nicole Ando, husband William, and her two grandchildren, Maxwell and Isabella, living in the United Kingdom outside of London.

A Celebration of Julia’s Life is being scheduled in the fall, 2024.

“Love is patient, love is kind.   Love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude.  Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.”  

...Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Help & Hope Center.

DONATIONS / Help & Hope Center (https://www.helpandhopecenter.org/donate)

Checks may be made to "The Help and Hope Center" and mailed to:

Help & Hope Center

1638 Park Street

Castle Rock, CO 80109