The Strife is O'er;
The Battle, Won
Late on the evening of July 9th, 2026, Heaven embraced Julie Ann Starck and welcomed her home.
A true Baby Boomer, born shortly after the war on November 8th, 1946 to Gladys and Allen Gibson, Julie (Gibson) Starck was a much loved, only-child blessing not only to her parents, but to her Aunts and Uncles as well.
Though she excelled at many things, most people who knew Julie would associate her with music. Music was her passion, her escape, her gifting, her joy. When young, she played piano, cello, and violin, even performing in the orchestra in high school and college. As an adult, she taught music lessons for many many years, primarily piano. She loved her students and worked hard to help each of them feel special and to find their voice through music. After retiring from teaching, she continued to sing songs and hymns with her family and friends and to sneak musical references into texts whenever possible. Shortly before her death, her daughter and granddaughter sang Abba's Thank You for the Music to her, as her musical legacy has trickled down like cascading arpeggios through the generations.
Julie had the talent and the drive to become a professional musician, but chose not to pursue that path, as she felt her faith and family were more important than even her love of music. She pursued her relationship with God and poured into her children and grandchildren with the same ardor she had given all those hours in a tiny music practice room in college. In His goodness, God allowed her to do all of it: she was a wife and mother, a church pianist and organist, a music teacher, a grandmother, a friend. And she loved her Lord and diligently sought Him. To her, He was "My Father, My God and Friend" -- and she lived that out.
Julie was a proud graduate of Fox Valley Lutheran High School. However, she had also attended Neenah High School and remained a loyal Rocket, loyal enough that her kids still know the rocket cheer.
She attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison as a music major, but fellow student Charles "Chuck" Skeels had other designs... Rather than finishing, she instead became Julie Skeels on March 31st, 1967 in a small ceremony at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.
Their first child, Kellie (Skeels) Eggert was born in 1969. Julie declared that she wanted 15 more. Their second child, Heather (Skeels) Nagel was born in 1971. Julie, stating that she'd become more realistic about the realities of parenthood, amended the number to 12. Though Chuck and Julie only officially raised their two girls, there were a myriad of friends and piano students who felt warmly welcomed in as family.
Chuck and Julie were married for nearly 25 years and remained close after their divorce, even visiting each other in hospital and attending family events together.
In 1992, Julie married her high school sweetheart, Lee Starck, in a small ceremony in her parents' backyard, made bittersweet by the recent deaths of both of her parents. They remained married until Lee's death in 2020.
Awaiting our heavenly reunion with Julie are her children: Erik and Kellie (Skeels) Eggert of Houston, TX, Jeff and Heather (Skeels) Nagel of Wales, WI and her stepchildren: Joe and Larissa Eastman and Jonathon and Emma Starck, her grandchildren: Katya Eggert, Lily and Josh Nagel, and Jade Eastman, as well as additional family and many friends.
Julie is happily reunited with her parents and grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her former spouses, her children already in heaven, many friends, and so many cats.
One of her favorite hymns was The Strife is Oe'r, the Battle, Won. Her family praises God through their tears, because they are confident she is wearing the crown of life that Jesus won for her.
The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the staff of Brolen Meadows for the love and excellent care they showed Julie in the last year of her life.
The family is holding a private celebration of life service. Any cards, flowers, or gifts may be sent to: Schmidt & Bartelt, Inc. 930 Main St. Mukwonago, WI 53149
