Rockledge, FL – Julie Colleen Pope, age 59, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2015 in Florida after a courageous battle with cancer in which she was cared for in her final weeks by her sister Kathy.

Julie was born August 10, 1955 in Ishpeming. She attended local schools and graduated from the National Mine High School in 1973. After graduation she entered the Army serving most of her enlistment in Germany, as a photographer for the Stars and Stripes Newspaper in Europe. She was an avid softball player both in Ishpeming and in the Army. During her Army playing time, her team won second in the nation. She worked for a time in North Carolina with friends from the Army before relocating to Cape Canaveral, FL. In her years there she worked many jobs before finding her passion – gardening. She worked her last few years at Rockledge Gardens nursery – with her green thumb she could grow anything. Her yard was the most beautiful in her area and she had won awards for her gardening skills.

Julie is survived by her mother Colleen Collins of Ishpeming, her father Llewellyn (Anita) Pope of Ishpeming, sister Kathryn (Gerry) Pope Gaston and their son Eric all of Columbus, OH, brother Jerry Pope ( wife Amanda – her very special friend) of Ishpeming and his family – son Tony (Meg) & children Kathryn, Arvo and Silas, son Steven Pope, son Sam Genord and son D.J. (Lindsay) Jain, also aunt Judy Thibodeau and family, uncle Doug (Mary) Parvianen and family, uncle Jack (Marilyn) Parvianen and family. She also leaves many wonderful friends in FL, especially Renee and John Pollei and family & her wonderful family at Rockledge Gardens – a place she loved. She was preceded in death by a sister Mary Gehring ans a brother Charles Pope.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ishpeming.

Julie's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.