After a lifetime of selfless service to others, Julie Ellen Gelpke embraced her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in His Kingdom on May 24th, 2018. Julie was born on March 11, 1962 in San Antonio, Texas. She attended Winston Churchill High School, where her friendly, outgoing personality and phenomenal speaking talent resulted into her being elected as her senior class vice-president. Julie was an avid reader, an animal lover, and a devoted friend to those blessed with knowing her.
Following graduation, Julie worked for several years as a police dispatch officer in Balcones Heights, Texas. After moving to Kansas, Julie attended Pittsburg State University, earning her degree in Sociology with an emphasis in diversity. Julie was an activist who fought for human and civil rights for all, and she fearlessly called out injustice or discrimination wherever it was found. Julie’s uncanny ability to employ humor in any situation gave precious relief to countless others for whom battles had taken their toll.
Julie used her talents to affect change as a membership leader for the National Organization for Women, as a public speaker endorsing progressive candidates, and as an organizer of phone-drives to legislators on countless issues; however, the majority of her contributions were behind-the-scenes, direct involvement in the lives of those in need, such as providing transportation to a needy family, giving love and support to a young woman facing racism, and helping others find much needed resources related to gender-identity differences. Julie was a tireless advocate who did these things without claiming credit or compensation.
She is survived by her sister Kelly Ann Gelpke, nephew Paul Gelpke, all of Texas; uncle and aunt Jack and Carlene Ruttle, of Las Cruces, NM, cousins Terri Lynette Forbes and Cathy Pitcher of Waco, Texas, along with several other cousins. Julie is survived also by Stephanie Stahl, of Lamar, Missouri, whom Julie loved and cherished as her daughter, granddaughter Kierra Stahl, also of Lamar, and grandson Keegan Jones, of Melissa, Texas.
Julie is preceded in death by her beloved mother, Joann “Sally” Gelpke, her father, Paul Gelpke, and aunts Jane Keltner and Joyce Stubblefield.
Memorial services will be 7pm, Friday June 1, 2018 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg with Pastor Allan Parker officiating. The family will receive friends before and after the service. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.
A tribute gift in Julie’s honor can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road, Ste. 1000. Silver Spring, MD 20910, 1-800-748-7274, orhttps://phassociation.org/givenow. Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS.
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