Julia Pauline Trudeau

Julia was born on January 5, 1942 to Richard Christian Koch and Josephine Julia Koch (Rochez) in Detroit. Her smile and laughter were infectious and her kind, inquisitive and thoughtful soul with a special brand of spice will surely be missed and remembered by the many lives she touched.

Julia grew up in St. Clair Shores on Lake St. Clair where her love for the water and the outdoors began. Julia married Robert Gliniecki after graduating from Lakeview High School where she excelled in academics, gymnastics and swimming. They moved to Oregon where Robert was stationed in the Navy and started their family with first born, Julie. After the Navy, they returned to Michigan and eventually moved to a farm in Romeo to raise the family that had blessedly grown to include four more children, Robert, Josephine, Jonna and Susanne.

From babysitting as a youngster to a busy mother of 5 and a hobby farm full of animals, Julia’s thirst for knowledge never swayed. She returned to school later in life, graduating from Macomb Community College while working for her brothers at K&K Tool & Die where she could talk shop with the best of them. Her knack for understanding the trade ultimately led her to meeting her second husband, John Trudeau, while attending member events hosted by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Julia eventually garnered a position with Amphenol Aerospace as a global project manager, supporting the Radsok connector patented by her brother and sold to Amphenol, until her retirement in 2012.

Julia lived a truly blessed and charmed life. Although she lived for the joy and laughter of family, she loved a good book and conversation, and was always on the go with her zest for life and learning. From teaching her children how to care for and show farm animals in 4-H and sewing matching outfits for the holidays, to her membership at Trinity Lutheran in Clinton Twp. and serving in Stephen Ministries, her interests were endless. She could be found exploring a machine shop, fly fishing Slippery Rock, gardening, quilting, exploring a woolen shop in New Zealand, the Suez Canal, or the history of Apostles in the Mediterranean, visiting loved ones in Germany or banding birds in St. Helen, MI. But her all-time favorite was beachcombing and swimming both the shorelines of Florida’s Atlantic Ocean and the shores of Lake Huron in Port Sanilac for sea glass. She had the spirit of an explorer, taking the roads less traveled, or as she called them “short cuts” when venturing back roads and making life long friends along the way who, along with her family, will surely miss this dynamic woman whose strength, knowledge and smile could brighten any room. In the often spoken words of Julia when parting with loved ones, “Miss you already” rings true as her travels took her home to our Lord and Savior.

Julia is survived by her two brothers, Joseph J Koch (Kay) of Fort Pierce, FL and Richard N Koch of St Clair Shores; her children; Julie Friend (Donald) of Eastpointe, Robert Gliniecki Jr (Katherine) of Romeo, Josephine Myszenski (Robert) of Kingston, Jonna Henris (Edward) of Harrison Twp and Susanne Gliniecki of Mt. Clemens and step sons Jon Trudeau (Carol) of Pella, IA and Todd Trudeau (Casey) of Roseville, MI. Julia was especially excited to be a proud grandmother of eleven grandchildren; Amanda, Robert, Donny, Joshua, Michael, Kaylyn, Zachary, Melanie, Madeline, Corey and Megan; and truly blessed to have nine great grandchildren; Harley, Bobby (Little B), Jonathan, Nathaniel, Hayli, Megan, Dastan, Kevin and Aaron who arrived this year; She is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins who dot the globe and whose many stories warm the hearts of her family. And lest we forget the many furry family members that adored her and may or may not have got spoilage under her dinner table.

Julia was predeceased by her parents Richard and Josephine, late husband John Trudeau (1997) and first beloved, Robert Gliniecki (2004).

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Thursday, March 23, 2023

38900 Harper, Clinton Twp, MI 48036.

A 10:00 a.m. visitation will precede the 11:00 am memorial service.

In Lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a charitable donation in loving memory of Julia to any of the following foundations:

St. Jude’s Children's Hospital – use the link below for the Julie P Trudeau Memorial Fund

https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=7902270&pg=personal&fr_id=39300

Trinity Lutheran Church, 38900 Harper, Clinton Twp, MI 48036

Give (kindridgiving.com)

Hospice of SE Michigan

Donations - Hospice of Michigan (hom.org)