March 10, 1962 – October 23, 2026
Julie Ann Torgerson, of rural Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Gundersen Harmony Care Center, following a courageous three-year battle with cancer.
Julie was born on March 10, 1962, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Duane and Laraine (Rettig) Meyer. She graduated from Wapsie Valley High School in 1980. In 1984, she married Robert Myers, and together they welcomed three daughters: Shannon, Vanessa, and Tiffany. Although their marriage later ended, their daughters remained an important part of Julie’s life. In 2004, Julie married Jerome Torgerson. Along with his sons Joshua and Michael, they made their home in the countryside south of Canton, Minnesota.
Julie had a lifelong love for animals and a compassionate heart for creatures of all kinds. She spent several years working as a pet groomer before pursuing her education at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, where she graduated from the communications program. Her passion for animals inspired her to open Noah’s Bark Animal Shelter at her home, where she devoted her time to caring for animals in need.
In addition to her work with animals, Julie served as the Activities Director at Harmony Place in Harmony, Minnesota. In this role, she had the opportunity to share her creativity and caring nature with others.
Julie found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. She loved gardening, quilting, sewing, crafting and spending time with her grandchildren. Whether tending to her garden, working on a creative project, or caring for an animal, Julie enjoyed using her hands and her talents to bring something beautiful into the world.
Above all, Julie will be remembered for her love of family, her compassion for animals, and the many ways she touched the lives of those around her. Her memory will live on through the family she loved and the countless lives, both human and animal, that she cared for along the way.
Julie is survived by her loving husband, Jerome Torgerson of Decorah, Iowa; her three daughters, Shannon (Luke) Baethke of Decorah, Iowa, Vanessa (Dominique) Fallings of Marietta, Georgia, and Tiffany (Kyle) Hays of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; her two stepsons, Joshua (Brittany) Torgerson and Michael (Amanda Stage) Torgerson, both of Mabel, Minnesota; and her cherished grandchildren, Nora, Tristan, Blake, Keegan, Millie, Willow, Jaden, Gracelyn, Brayden, Sophie, Makiah, and Brylee.
She is also survived by her mother, Laraine Meyer of Fairbank, Iowa; and her sisters, Pam (Jack) Ryan of Boone, North Carolina, and Crystal Gienau of Waterloo, Iowa.
Julie was preceded in death by her father, Duane Meyer; and her grandparents, Paul and Leota Rettig, Hilda Hesse, Edwin Meyer, and Herman Hesse.
A funeral service celebrating Julie’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Henrytown Lutheran Church in rural Harmony, Minnesota. Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, at the church, and again one hour before the funeral service on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Fairbank Cemetery in Fairbank, Iowa.
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