Julie Ann Kress (née Ellefson)

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Julie Ann Kress announces her passing on August 7, 2026. Julie was born to Julius and Corinne (Carrier) Ellefson on July 8, 1937, in Glenwood, Minnesota. She was the proud mother of Dr. Joel Kress (Barbara) and Leslie Johnson (Mark). She was Grandma to Ellen Kress and Adam and Kyle Johnson. Julie is also survived by her sister Carolyn Gudim, niece Shannon Peterson (John) and nephew Michael Neises along with other nieces and nephews and their children.

Julie graduated from Willmar High School in 1954. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1958 and married James Kress that same year. Julie initially taught kindergarten in Robbinsdale and then tutored hearing-impaired students in Cottage Grove, where she resided for over fifteen years. Julie then spent fourteen years as the executive assistant to seven commissioners at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry before her retirement in 1999. After leaving the workforce, Julie's activities included regular use of her Dustbuster, frequent visits to the YMCA for exercise classes, crossword puzzles and coffee as well as water-color painting classes with friends.

In the future, her cremains will be buried in the Ellefson family plot at the Clover Leaf Memorial Park in Willmar. Family and friends will gather later (at a date TBD) to celebrate Julie's life. The family thanks Norris Square and St. Croix Hospice for providing compassionate care for Julie.