" Burnt sugar glaze, Aunt Julia made the best angel food cake in the world. At the last reunion, I asked Aunt Julia to teach me how to make her glaze. She said sure, a cup of sugar was placed in a cast iron skillet and stirred for hours, (or so it seemed). After hours of stirring the sugar until it was brown she said, "now we can start on the glaze". She went on to make her famous glaze. I never knew until that moment the love and work she put into that glaze. Just like her family and her life, she put so much work into them and stirred to perfection. ? I love you dearly Aunt Julia and will miss you dearly. "
In loving memory of
Julia McGrew
July 23, 1932 - May 28, 2022
Julia McGrew, 89, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood. Burial will be in the Silver City Cemetery in Silver City. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood.
Memorials: Glenwood Public Library
Julia McGrew, 89, Council Bluffs, passed away May 28, 2022 at Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs.
Julia Elizabeth (Irvin) McGrew, daughter of Ulysses John and Jessie Grace (Fleming) Irvin, was born on July 23, 1932 on a farm near Malvern, IA. Her family moved to a farm in the Macedonia, IA area where she attended school and graduated from Macedonia High School in 1949.
Julia married John Albert Clifton McGrew on November 25, 1956 and moved to a farm near Hastings, IA, where they raised their three children and lived for many years. John passed away in 1990.
Julia worked at the Glenwood Resource Center in Glenwood, IA as a licensed practical nurse in positioning therapy. Following her retirement, Julia kept busy with the Methodist Women's group, gardening, and canning. She enjoyed traveling with her companion Billy White. Julia loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a good friend to all who knew and loved her.
In addition to her husband John, Julia was preceded in death by her parents; son Cliff McGrew; sister Bonnie Wyscarver and husband Jim; brother James Irvin; sister-in-law Nancy Irvin; brothers-in-law, John Raymond and Don Matthews; and companion Billy White.
Julia is survived by her daughters, Judy Clark and her husband, Wayne of Sidney, IA and Jackie McGrew and husband Allen Ball of Glenwood, IA; daughter-in-law Patti Keithley of Tulsa, OK; 7 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; brothers, John Irvin and his wife Martha of Yukon, OK, and Joe Irvin and his wife Becky of Glenwood; sister June Matthews of Des Moines, IA; other relatives; and a host of many special friends.
Tributes
"She was one of our special cousins, sweet, kind and always reminded me of Aunt Grace. She will be missed so much. Love and prayers to all of her family. Love Ann"
"Julia was such a kind lady, my best memory of Julia is when we took her and her sister Bonnie to Uncle Bill?s chili feed, we had so much fun! So sorry for your loss. Love Craig Jane Bailee and Paige Fleming "
"Julia was such a kind and caring person. Always there to help or listen. Our family loved Julia, and will sure miss her. Our hearts are broken, but know she is at peace. Love and sympathy to her family. "
"Julia was such a nice and caring lady. Always there to help or listen. So loved by our family, she will be truly missed. She will always have a place in our hearts. Sympathy to all her family. ?????"
"Heaven gained a true angel today! Aunt Julia was the best aunt I could ever ask for! I had a special spot in her heart?.even tho I wasn?t a boy. ?She spoiled me & her love for me and all her family was pure and genuine! Couldn?t ask for a better person for an aunt! We will all miss you! Tell everyone in Heaven hello from all of us below! Love, Lynda & family ?"