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Julie Childers Obituary
Julie Marilyn Childers
August 6, 1947 - March 24, 2023
Overland Park, Kansas - Beloved wife, devoted mother, and friend to all went home to be with the Lord on March 24, 2023. Julie was born on August 6th, 1947 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Everett and Inez Anderson. Julie was the oldest of three siblings. From a young age, Julie embraced her Christian faith. She found great joy in sharing her strong faith with others and did this daily through her words and actions. Julie was a friend to everyone she met and never at a loss for words.
Julie attended the University of Iowa where she received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She taught grade school for many years at Joplin Public Schools. Countless young students were positively impacted by Julie's tender heart and love for teaching.
Julie and her first husband, Dan welcomed their two sons, Jon Brender and Nate Brender, who were both born in Joplin, Missouri. Her life centered around Caring for her two young boys and raising them brought her insurmountable joy. Julie not only cherished her own children, but their friends as well. She welcomed everyone with open arms and there was always plenty of food to go around. Julie's home was a gathering place where every person felt comfortable and loved.
Julie married Mo Childers, the love of her life, on December 28th, 1985.They moved to Overland Park, KS. where she helped run the family business, Childers & Associates. Julie loved decorating and had special talent for it. This artistic gift was evident in the work she did at the show room displays as well as in their home.
Julie was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Her love for fashion began in her early days of modeling and continued throughout her life. She always wore the perfect outfit and had a smile on her face. Julie was the epitome of style and grace in every way. Her beauty shone from within.
Julie embraced the Lord's commandment to "love each other as I have loved you" and this is how she lived her life. She had the biggest heart and was always quick to help anyone in need. Julie saw the beauty in every person and was an example for us all. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
She is survived by: Husband; Mo Childers, Children; Jon Brender, Nate & Darby Brender, Julie & Howard Anderson, and Cynthia and Frederic Chovet. Grandchildren; Elizabeth Anderson, Meredith Anderson, Dossi Brender, Logan Brender, Will Brender. Brothers; Carl Anderson and Bruce Anderson. And many nieces and nephews
The family looks forward to celebrating Julie's life with family and friends. The service will be held on Saturday April 1st at the Church of the Resurrection, Wesley Chapel, 13720 Roe Blvd, Leawood, KS 66224. Schedule: Visitation 12:30pm, Service 1pm with an on-site reception at 2pm.
Condolences may be expressed at www.porterfuneralhome.com https://www.porterfuneralhome.com/ObituaryDetails.aspx?id=71777&Name=Julie_Marilyn_Childers
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Will Maas
In the weeks before Jon Coffey forwarded to me Julie (Anderson) Childers' obituary, I was mulling the prospect of reaching out to her to come join us this year in September. I've thought about doing that dozens of times in the past. My chief regret now is that I'm forced to write what I should have told her while she was alive.
The obituary author wrote, "She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside." During my Senior year at City High I came to know that stunning girl. I think her boyfriend Dan Brender and she had broken up or something like that. I had a huge crush on her, like so many boys at City High, starting with Senior Jack Jeffries when she was a Sophomore. Julie was mature beyond her years, emotionally at least ten, maybe twenty years older than all of us young guys who adored her. And she passed for that older woman! I heard, although she was under age, she got a job as a cocktail waitress at the Tree Top Lounge in Coralville.
I started hanging out with Julie. Like others before and after me, I basked in the sunshine of her warmth and affection. She adored her younger brother whom I believe is Carl? She hugged him and made him feel, I'm sure, so secure, like a mother would do. It's not surprising she went on to become a marvelous mother to seven children and a grand grandmother to five more.
Julie was a toucher. She'd touch my shoulder and hug easily without nervousness, unlike any member of my family. Her smile was a warm opening to a special soul. She was fearless in conversations. I remember her once in a car with three of us driving around Iowa City talking openly about sexual intercourse, in a way that was not clinical nor lewd. It was an artist's portrait of the joy of engaging in it, rendered first person. Julie was looking forward to that amazing experience someday.
I was so crazy about her I once rode my bicycle from Kirkwood Avenue in Iowa City at night to Julie's house to see her, and back in the dark, without lights. Alas, after a time she got back together with Dan Brender, and it looks like they went on to have three children. And she embraced the concept for the rest of her days, "love each other as I have loved you."
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Julie, you were a brief but unforgettable comet who tore across my young sky. I'm sorry I never told you that.
Love, Will
Nile Williamson
Will's comments were a great testimonial.
Will Maas
Thank you, Nile. Like you, I was trained to pay close attention to the facts. And to make sure they were correct by double-checking.
Jon Coffey sent me a 1960's era postcard of the "Tree House Lounge" in Coralville, not the "Tree Top" as I called it. Thank you, Jon! That's the place where Julie ( Anderson) Childers used to work, according to my sometimes flawed memory.
RIP, Julie.
Jon Coffey
Your memory is 100% fantastic still, Will! Anybody who can author the large number of hardbound best sellers that you have written and recited all kinds of old Iowa City fun facts at our September 2022 reunion most certainly is doing just fine in the memory department!
Besides, Tree Top ...Tree House -- close enough, same thing after what?? 58 whole years!?