Julie Elizabeth Gradowski

Julie Elizabeth (Hunt) Gradowski, 58, passed away July 14, 2015. Julie was born in Chicago, IL to Donald and Elizabeth (Dean) Hunt. She attended 2 years of college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI where she studied art, photography, painting, drawing, and visual arts.

She is survived by her husband, Rick Gradowski; parents, Donald and Elizabeth Hunt; sister, Jennifer (Hunt) Dreyfuss (David); brother, Jeff Hunt; step-sons, Scott Elizondo (Stacie) and Jason Elizondo (Melissa); grandchildren, Tanner, Sydney, and Jackson; niece, Meagan Hunt; nephews, Andy Dreyfuss, Ben Dreyfuss, Sam Dreyfuss, and Ryan Hunt; Aunts, Frances Dean (Tom Milleman); friends and good neighbors, Larry and Jody Miller; mother-in-law, Stella V. Gradowski; sister-in-law, Laura (Ralph) Garcia; and brother-in-law, John (Elaine) Gradowski. Julie is preceded in death by grandparents, George and Beauluh (Ewing) Dean, and Mack and Dorothy (Olson) Hunt; Corinne and Dr. James Comrie.

Our beloved Julie has moved on to a better place. We will all miss her dearly. Especially her husband, best friend, and soul mate, Rick Gradowski. As we celebrate Julie’s life, we all have precious memories of this incredibly wonderful and unique woman. She was a woman with the spirit of a true artist and unmatched compassion. Julie’s artistic soul involved all forms including music, paintings, and sculpture. Her eye for the exceptional and the unique was among her greatest gifts. She was an adept collector of sculpture, furniture, paintings, and music.

Julie’s warm heartedness extended to both people and animals. She considered her cats and dog, Blueberry, Tommy, JC, Billy, Jamie, and Shelby all as part of her family. They were like children to her, and she treated them that way. She recognized the unique beauty in each and every one. Her sense of compassion for all living things was unmatched.

We will all miss Julie profoundly, but she will remain in our hearts forever. Julie truly enriched the lives of everyone around her. With much love, we can say goodbye.