Straka, Julie A.

Julie A. Straka, age 88, of Dodgeville, passed away on September 30, 2025, at Crestridge Memory Care.

She was born September 19, 1937, in Mt Hope Wisconsin, daughter of Francis and Alice (Walsh) Morgan.  She graduated from St. Boniface Catholic School in Ionia, Iowa, in May 1955.  On November 22, 1958, she married Charles Straka in Ionia, Iowa.  She worked alongside Charlie farming in Highland, until moving to Dodgeville in 1989 and worked at Lands' End until she was 75.  A devoted homemaker, she was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Julie was happiest when surrounded by family and could often be found in the kitchen baking or visiting with friends and loved ones.

Julie is survived by seven children: Carol (Jerry Hasburgh) of Cobb, Rick (Diane) of Highland, Joan (Dan) Johanning of Dodgeville, Bob (Teresa) of Platteville, Kevin of Madison, Mary Ellen of Dodgeville, and Tony of Reedsburg. She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Her surviving siblings include her sister, Phyllis Roberts of Watertown, WI, and her brother, Joe (Kae) Morgan of Iowa. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Sam Speltz of Cochrane, WI, and sisters-in-law, Helen Kite of Montfort and Lillian Zimmer of Glen Haven.

Julie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles (2003); her parents; her great-granddaughter, Alexa Michek; her sisters, Katie Speltz and Janet Thorn; her brother-in-law, Merlin (Butch) Roberts; and many other in-laws.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025 at ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Dodgeville.  Burial will be held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville and from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass on Monday at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Crestridge Memory Care for taking exceptional care of Mom while she lived there. Your support and compassion were always genuine and deeply appreciated. We also thank Agrace Palliative care for all your visits, Agrace Hospice for helping us all through this difficult time, and Gorgen Funeral Home for your kindness.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com