Julie Bartolameolli

Julie Bartolameolli’s indomitable soul and spirit left her body and transcended to heaven for reunification with her Mom, Dad, brother, and beloved kitties on March, 18 at Horizon’s Lawlis Family Hospice in Mequon, WI. She took her last breath peacefully in the arms of her loving husband Dan and his two sisters Debbie and Mary. She was deeply loved by her relatively small family of origin and large family of choice. Julie battled stage-4 breast cancer for 13 years. Through numerous surgeries, radiation treatments, chemo regimens, and side effects, she remained upbeat and hopeful. She experienced two 5-year periods of remission, only to receive the heartbreaking news “the cancer has returned”. She never believed it would take her; never gave in; was always hopeful and forward looking and truly believed she would live to the ripe old age of 90, just as her parents had done. Her wonderful doctors at the Mayo Clinic Rochester marveled at her resiliency. They called her a true warrior, commenting that many of their patients would have chosen not to put their bodies through the torture Julie experienced…. but Julie enjoyed life too much to give up. Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan to Ernest and Clarine (Paquin) Bartolameolli in the late 1940’s she passed at the age of “70-ish”. She was preceded in death by her parents “Ernie & Clair” and brother Gary Bartolameolli. She is survived by her husband R Daniel Poeschel and counts her brother Gary’s two children Tracey (Don Kaminski) and their son Logan (Logie-pie), and Steven Bartolameolli as her own. Julie graduated with honors from Iron Mountain High School where she was active in student government and the prom queen. She attended Michigan State University studying English for two years. Being the dutiful daughter, she transferred to Northern Michigan University in Marquette to be closer to home, where she graduated with a double major in English and Education. She worked as a schoolteacher in the Marquette Michigan Public School System, becoming the youngest head of the teachers union, a position her Father was very proud of. Throughout the 1970’s, she lived and worked in various educational systems throughout California and Colorado where she also earned two masters degrees in Education and Public Administration. Her fondest assignment was High School Guidance Counselor for low income / at risk kids. She made a difference, positively affecting kids lives. Many stayed in touch with her or looked her up years later to thank her for changing their life trajectories. She moved back to the mid-west to direct a three year federal government initiative in the Oregon WI school system, a suburb of Madison WI. It is there she met her future husband Dan Poeschel in 1979. 42 years later they are still together; happily married 38. Understandably, she kept her beautiful Bartolameolli name. Who could give that up? Dan and Julie moved to Whitefish Bay, WI in 1982 & bought a house in 1984, which they still own to this day. Julie switched to a career in computer equipment sales for Burroughs and Digital Equipment using her knowledge and experience within the education space. In the 1990’s Dan and Julie left their corporate jobs forming Expert Resources, Inc. a successful business consulting company providing management training and “Edutainment” to various companies in the Milwaukee area for twenty plus years. Julie loved cooking Italian food. Her stuffed shells were always requested at family get togethers. She loved all animals, especially her kitties, traveling, Christmas, Arizona, writing, and making friends wherever she went. She saw the value, beauty and potential in everyone she met. She never hesitated to step into a situation where she could build a person up … whether it be helping a struggling mother when no one else would lend a hand in a grocery store, or coaching the executive leadership of a Fortune 100 company with empathy, caring and mentorship. Bright smile, easy to laugh, not afraid to share her thoughts. She was a force of nature and will be eternally missed. Julie will be cremated without a traditional viewing, wake, and funeral service in accordance with her wishes. Those who knew her are encouraged to leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page at www.cremationsocietyofmilwaukee.com. A “Celebration Of Life” ceremony will be scheduled in the future, probably in May. Please donate any memorials to: The Wisconsin Humane Society, The Hunger Task Force, Habitat for Humanity, or the American Cancer Society.