Julie A. Koprowicz

OBITUARY

Julie Ann Benton Koprowicz age 64 from Gaylord, passed away from an unexpected illness on December 16, 2025, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Julie was born in Detroit and grew up on the west side with her parents Gerry and Donna Benton, and brother and sister Gary and Diane. Julie attended St Suzanne's elementary in Detroit and celebrated her 50th eighth grade class reunion last October in Livonia. Growing up Julie belonged to Girl Scouts, played softball coached by her father, participated in bowling leagues, rode horses, and went on camping trips with her family. Julie graduated from Bishop Borgess High School in Redford in 1979. In her teens Julie had a short career as a fashion model for advertising circulars.

After graduation Julie attended Wilma Boyd Travel School in Pittsburgh, obtaining travel agent certification. Julie then worked at the Renaissance Center Plaza Hotel, then Studio 7 Tours on 7 mile where she chaperoned flights out of Detroit Metro airport for day trip gambling junkets to Atlantic City. Julie then moved to Total Travel Management providing corporate travel services for General Motors managers.

Julie met Joe when Joe bought a house across the street from her parents' house where she grew up. Julie and Joe were together 42 years and married 38 of them. They got married in May of 1987 at St. Suzanne's in Detroit.

After marrying, Joe and Julie moved to Traverse City. Julie worked at Passageways Travel in Traverse City, and then their Gaylord office after Julie and Joe moved to Gaylord in 1989. They joined St. Mary's Cathedral Parish at that time.

After Joe and Julie's daughter Abigail was born in 1991, Julie left the workplace until Abigail started school. Julie then returned to work at Joe's insurance agency, where they worked side-by-side for 25 years. Julie's talents and people skills played a major role in their agency's success. Julie received a Top Producer award from Citizens Insurance, and Julie remembered every client's name, face, family and background with great aplomb, which helped cement the client relationships. Always quick with a laugh and a smile, it seemed as if Julie was on a first-name basis with everybody in Gaylord. She was loved across the board by everybody that knew her. Julie retired from the insurance business in 2021.

Julie and Joe spent all their time together, at work, and time off, as a couple, meeting all of life's challenges, as they built a life together with love. Julie's hard work and perseverance played a huge role in their achievements. Julie selflessly helped Joe in every project he endeavored. Among them, cutting firewood, and maintaining their fifteen-acre property. Working together side-by-side was their destiny. Julie and Joe were partners in life in every sense of the word. Joe and Julie faced many challenges in their years together. Love, humor and commitment to each other always helped forge the path forward. The sign of a life well lived is what obstacles you overcome together to achieve your goals.

Julie and Joe participated in dog obedience training since 1985, including their show champion golden retriever Lancelot, golden retriever Boomer, and currently border collie, Haggis, whom Julie could never kick the ball for often enough.

When not working, Julie and Joe and Abigail shared their free time together, camping, travelling, fishing, deer hunting, mushrooming, boating, downhill skiing, taking saunas, contra dancing, performing at music jams and open mikes, and going to music festivals. Julie went to dozens of music festivals, with Joe and Abigail, including Dunegrass, Harvest Gathering, Farmfest, Hoxeyville, Smiling Acres, Nor'easter, Alpena Folk Festival, and Julie attended Bliss Fest for over 20 years. Julie had an unrequited passion for crafting and creating curiosities, and was always dreaming of and looking forward to her next project.

Julie and Joe started camping together when they first met, and Julie, Joe and Abigail went camping almost every summer weekend while Abigail was growing up. Their favorite destinations were the UP and Tahquamenon Falls. Julie, Joe and Abigail also enjoyed theme parks including Cedar Point, Disney World, Sea World, Six Flags Darian Lake, Kings Island, Michigan Adventure, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Julie loved to travel and enjoyed road trips with Joe and Abigail. Yearly trips included destinations like Yellowstone, the Black Hills, the Badlands, the Grand Tetons, Chicago, New York, San Antonio, Costa Rica, Asheville, Charleston, Florida, Kentucky, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks, Blue Ridge Mountains, Finger Lakes, Myrtle Beach, Minnesota State Fair, Thousand Islands, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Wawa, and every county and town in Michigan. Julie also visited the Bahamas, California, Mexico, New Orleans, and Ocean Cruises before Julie and Joe were married.

When on road trips Julie looked forward to every flea market, thrift shop, garage sale, antique shop, and farmers market along the road. Road trips also provided opportunities to enjoy authentic barbeque and soul food. Favorite stops included: Maurices Piggy Park in Columbia, Bessinger's, Melvin's, Martha Lou's Kitchen, Nana's Soulfood, and the Hominy Grill in Charleston, Scotts Barbeque in Hemingway South Carolina, and Casey's Soul Food Buffet in Wilmington North Carolina, and lobster and seafood stops all along the coast of Maine, especially Mcloons, Roy Moore's, Al's Seafood, and the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport.

The holidays were always a special time as a family, especially Christmas. Julie transformed the house into a Christmas wonderland, baked cookies with Abigail, and everybody went to Christmas concerts all over northern Michigan, rang the bell for Salvation Army, packed Kiwanis food baskets for needy families, attended Christmas parties, Christmas parades, went caroling, viewed holiday light displays, went to holiday open houses in Traverse City, Petoskey, Indian River and Harbor Springs, and Christmas eve church services.

Julie and Joe along with help from Abigail co-chaired the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at St Mary's Cathedral parish for over 20 years. Once again Julie's people skills were on display as she managed the dining room and made everybody feel welcome. Halloween excursions to Old Town Traverse City were also an annual family tradition.

Julie and Abigail were best friends. Starting when Abigail was a Girl Scout and Julie was the troop leader for several years together. Julie was also a softball, basketball, and track and field mom during Abigail's school years, and stage mom, as Abigail performed with the Cathedral Players at St Mary's School. Besides mother and daughter road trips and vacations, they enjoyed thrift shops, rock picking on beaches, flower gardening, sitting around the campfire, crafting together and selling their creations at local craft fairs and farmers markets, and hanging out together. Abigail's flat in Lake Leelanau was Julie's second home. One thing Julie could never get enough of was lying in the sun.

Julie consistently showed her heart helping others through acts of kindness, affection, and putting other's needs before her own. She made hand-made gifts for all her friends. She helped pay for groceries for those before her in line when they came up short. Julie bought lunch for Abigail's Aquinas college friends when she went to visit and remained friends with them after they graduated. Julie played caregiver to Joe and Abigail after each of them had surgery. Julie was executive director of the Mitten Bay Girl Scout Council for a while, and local camp director for Gaylord girl scouts, running the camp and making sure the experience aligns with Girl Scout goals. Julie volunteered throughout the community and never sought any recognition. Julie never met a stranger, was always happy and optimistic, and was beloved by everyone she met.

Julie's legacy includes the life she shared with her husband Joe and Daughter Abigail. Julie was an intrinsic part of both their lives. Their sense of loss is profound. Julie is gone way too soon, and is loved, missed, and mourned in perpetuity. All who knew her remember her generosity of heart, willingness to help others, and cheerful personality. Joe and Abigail appreciate your prayers on their behalf. All of our lives are diminished by her passing. We endure, committed to preserving her memory and legacy.

Julie is survived by her husband Joe, daughter Abigail, sister Diane and several nieces and nephews, Haggis, and many loving friends.

Memorial services will be held on May 16, 2026, at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord. Visitation starts at noon and funeral service at 1:00 PM. A service at Fairview Cemetery in Gaylord follows.

Lord of all, as we say our final farewell; we commend Julie into your loving arms. Let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace, and rise in glory, and may we find comfort, through the mercy of God. Amen.