Julie Stafford

VISITATION:

4-7 pm on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Pederson Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls

SERVICE:

11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church, 130 W Central St. in Chippewa Falls

Julie Crane Stafford, 84, of Chippewa Falls passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015, at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

Julie was born on March 14, 1931 in Chippewa Falls and was the daughter of Eugene E. and Stella J. Crane. She graduated from Chippewa Falls Senior High School in 1949.

She married Richard H. Stafford on December 27, 1952, and lived in Fort Monmouth, NJ while Dick was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. They returned to Chippewa Falls in 1955 and began raising their family.

She attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving a BS Degree in Education, Political Science and Sociology in 1952. Julie began graduate work with the University of Wisconsin-Superior completing a Master's degree in Educational Administration in 1968, and proceeded on to receive a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1972. She worked for the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing while in Madison and returned to Chippewa Falls upon completion of her degree to become an Assistant Principal at Chippewa Falls Senior High School. She became a Director of Curriculum and Educational Leadership with the Chippewa Falls Schools and then was hired by Cray Research, Inc. to become an Educational Liaison between Cray and the Schools in Wisconsin. She administered a National Science Foundation program called Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative for 25 years, which prepared thousands of teachers to excel in mathematics and science education. She actively participated in many statewide mathematics and science and leadership organizations. She continued in that position for twenty five years retiring in July of 2012. She was recognized as an outstanding Friend of Science Education at the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers annual convention in 2013.

Julie was a lifelong member and Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Chippewa Falls and was also involved in many other Community organizations including PEO and AAUW. She was also given the Badger of the Year Award from the UW Madison as an outstanding alumnus.

She is survived by her children, Ellen (Todd) Teske of Eau Claire, Ann, (Stuart) Stitgen of Madison, Susan (Randy) Orzeck of White Salmon WA, Harold of Madison and Bill of Big Sky, MT. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Jessica and Jacob Dohm, Kathryn, Sarah, Jamison (Yuka) and Joseph Teske, Julia and Benjamin Stitgen and Richard G. Stafford; four great-grandchildren, Emersyn Ackerlund, Charlie Ann Karker, Aden Vukcevic and Richard L. Teske; three sisters-in-law, Verene Crane of Chippewa Falls, Jeanne Crane of Oshkosh and Kathryn Stafford-Henrickson of Milwaukee; many nieces, nephews, relatives and wonderful faithful friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, the Hon. William E. Crane, Robert Crane; and her husband, the Hon. Richard H. Stafford on October 6, 2011.

A funeral service celebrating Julie's life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church, 130 W Central St. in Chippewa Falls with the Rev. Dr. Karel Hanhart officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm, Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Pederson Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and may be designated to the First Presbyterian Church of Chippewa Falls or the Stafford Family Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Chippewa County.