Julie J Kissinger

Julie J. Kissinger, Columbia City, passed away at 5:39 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2016, at her home.

All who knew Julie Kissinger would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was hardworking but she knew how to play just as hard and she lived each and every day to the fullest.

Julie was a loving, nurturing wife and mother but she just may have argued that becoming a grandmother to eight amazing grandchildren was the greatest blessing in her life. It was easy to see that she was a woman of faith and it was her faith that was the compass she used to direct her steps. When deeply engaged in the fight for her life, Julie never lost hope and her quiet strength and graceful courage were such an inspiration. Deeply loved, she will never be forgotten.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII covered much of Europe. Countless young servicemen and women were called to fight while those who remained stateside became all too familiar with rationing on common goods such as rubber, paper, coffee and sugar.

Amidst this eventful time was the year 1942 that was filled with great anticipation for Gene and Sally (Wunder) Quinn as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as November held the city of Fort Wayne firmly in its grip. Their wait was over Nov. 19, when the baby girl they named Julie J. drew her first breath. She was the third of four children in the Quinn clan as she was joined in her family by her older sisters, Susan and Dawn and her younger brother, Gene.

Growing up on Shriner on Tri Lakes, Julie was a young girl of her generation. Her parents owned the hardware store on the lake and she was a bustle of activity right from the start. Julie loved being outdoors, boating, swimming, skiing and her dogs as well as spending time with friends, playing cards and sledding in the winter time.

Life was forever changed for Julie when she met her true love as a young girl of only 12. His name was James “Tarz” Kissinger and they met at the lake. By the following year, they were dating and they were married April 10, 1958, at the rectory of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church.

Julie was a lifelong member there and later in his life, Tarz became Catholic as they raised their five children: Joseph Robert, Jeffery James, Jonathan Scott, Jennifer Lou and Julie Ann, to be Catholic as well.
The newlyweds initially lived in a cabin behind the hardware store but they later moved to a house at Round Lake before settling in the “green house” at Little Cedar Lake. They finally moved to their farm house where she and Tarz started a family-owned and operated business, Kissinger Electric, a bit later in 1978.

Prior to being involved with the family business, Julie was a busy, stay-at-home mom. She lived to love and care for her family in any way she could. Sunday nights they traditionally had popcorn and watched the Dukes of Hazard as a family and they worked out in the garden and cut firewood together. Everything Julie made in the kitchen was fantastic and she knew how to make everything out of anything, including making beef tongue and liver taste good.

They almost always kicked off their weekend with a visit to Walkers Restaurant at Wolfe Lake Friday nights, which was something the kids always looked forward to. The family also enjoyed their weekend vacations away from Whitley County.

With their garden, Julie canned her own food and they raised their own animals, including chickens, cows, pigs, rabbits and even honey. She enjoyed celebrating holidays and particularly loved Christmas.
Later in life, Julie was thrilled beyond measure to become a grandmother. She treasured her grandchildren and savored the times they had to spend together at family gatherings. As they got older, Julie and Tarz enjoyed traveling with friends and seeing family that lived out of state and she always kept an ongoing list of people to visit in her mind. She and her husband enjoyed their years together and about their relationship Julie always said, “We work hard, we play hard and we love hard.” On Sept. 12, 2012, she was deeply saddened when Tarz passed away but she kept on and remained active in the family business, serving as its president. In fact, Julie was still in the office last week.
In everything she did, Julie Kissinger was a beautiful, gracious and kindhearted woman. She fought hard in everything she did, living by the motto that there is always something you can do, and she never let things get the best of her. Julie’s family was the light of her life and it was when she was surrounded by their love that she was the happiest she had ever been. Although life will never be the same without Julie here, she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

Julie’s family includes her children: Joseph Robert (Amy) Kissinger, Markle, Jeffery James (David) Kissinger, Jersey City, N.J., Jonathan Scott (Deanna) Kissinger, Columbia City, Jennifer Lou (Mark) Hinkel, Fort Wayne, and Julie Ann (Brent) Robinson, North Webster; sisters: Susan (Eron) Cooper, Dubach, La., and Dawn (Harold) Shannon, Ft. Wayne; brother, Gene (Karen) Quinn, Ft. Wayne; eight grandchildren: Cruz Garcia, Derek Kissinger, Megan Kissinger, Brittany Robinson, Breanna Robinson, Brady Robinson, Conner Garcia and Carissa Garcia; a sister-in-law, who was just like her sister, Peggy Defeo Omaha, Ark.; and her beloved three boxers: Wilson, Rosie and Sally.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents and husband, James “Tarz” Kissinger.
Visitation is f4om 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the funeral home. Julie will be buried next her to husband at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Cemetery, Greenhill, at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the Sara’s Garden, Heartland Hospice or the Humane Society of Whitley County.