Julie Christine Roe

Julie Christine Roe, 52, of Eldora, Iowa, was called to her Heavenly home on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, where she was surrounded with her loving family.

Following Julie’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Public visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church located at 107 Second St., Steamboat Rock, Iowa. Memorial services for Julie were held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 23, 2021, also at the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church with Pastor Harrison Lippert officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to be directed in Julie’s name to her family, which will later be designated to cancer research and Christian service. For further information or to send condolences please visit www.abelsfuneralhomes.com or call (641)-858-2181.

Julie Christine Clikeman was born on Nov. 18, 1968, in Charles City, Iowa, the daughter of Don and Elna (Beck) Clikeman. She was raised on the family dairy farm near Greene, Iowa, where she spent her youth helping with the Holstein dairy cows, and playing barefoot on the farm with her siblings and cousins. Julie graduated from Greene High School with the class of 1987. During high school, Julie got her CNA license and worked for the nursing home in Greene, where she loved caring for the elderly. Following high school, Julie went on to Hawkeye Community College and received her BAA in Business, where she also met her future husband Phil. She would graduate from there in 1989 and continue her education at Upper Iowa College where she received her bachelor’s degree in business, earning a BA in Business Administration in 2000. On Sept. 17, 1994, Julie was united in marriage (while she was barefoot of course) to the love of her life, Phil Roe at St. Peter Lutheran Church, in Greene, Iowa. From this union the couple was blessed with three beautiful children: Eli, Jesse and Bethany. In 2004, they all settled into a busy, fulfilling and happy life in Eldora, Iowa.

Julie had a solid work ethic filled with drive and determination that she would pass on to her children. But Julie’s zest to achieve was always balanced with her abiding faith in the Lord, and her love for everyone she met. No one could ever leave an encounter with Julie without a tremendous smile on their face. Her infectious smile was reinforced by her sincere caring for everyone she encountered - Julie would do anything to help anyone in need. Her passion for agriculture and the farming way of life led her to start her own farm marketing consulting business in 2017 in Eldora, Ag Marketing Department. She was a farm girl through and through – you could take Julie off of the farm, but you could never take the farm out of Julie. She was always happiest working with her farm clients; she truly loved them all.

Julie loved life with her family to the fullest. She constantly organized family adventures: summer vacations in Montana, scuba diving in the Caribbean, and special vacations in Florida and Mexico. Family picnics and swimming at the family pond at the farm near Greene were special times for her. Julie was an avid motorcyclist, hiker and outdoors woman, and loved flowers and often had a bouquet from her yard on her table for all to enjoy.

Life took an unexpected turn in June 2016, when Julie was diagnosed with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer. Never a smoker and always a health advocate, the diagnosis was a shock to the entire family. But as in all challenges she faced, Julie’s indomitable spirit refused to allow circumstances to dictate her attitude. While she courageously fought her own cancer battle, rather than pity herself, Julie turned this terrible news into an opportunity to do good: she reached out to other cancer sufferers to be an encouragement to them – and sharing her steadfast faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to those sufferers to offer hope and strength was the centerpiece of her life. Her constant refrain throughout her battle remained steady and sure: “God is Good . . All the time.”

Left to cherish Julie’s memory is her husband, Phil; children: Eli, Jesse and Bethany Roe; parents: Don and Elna Clikeman one sister: April (Scott) Johnson; one brother: Bret (Wendy) Clikeman; nieces Lousia, Ella and Sophia Johnson and nephew Noah Clikeman as well as countless cousins, aunts, uncles . . . and a literal multitude of deeply loved and loving friends. Julie will be missed by everyone who knew her – but the sweet memories of her incredible impact on our lives will continue forever.

Julie is preceded in death by her in-law’s, Harry and Ruby Roe along with her maternal and paternal grandparents and niece Vienna Christine Johnson.