Julie Ladwig

Julie Susan Ladwig was born December 18, 1953, in Albert Lea, MN to Georgia (Mellang) and Casey Roscoe. She was baptized and confirmed in Albert Lea at First Lutheran Church. Julie passed away peacefully December 5, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, December 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna (609 Lincoln Ave S., Owatonna, MN). Visitation will be held from 4 PM to 7 PM on Thursday, December 11 at Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home and for two hours prior to the service at the church on Friday.

She attended Albert Lea High School and graduated in 1972. Julie attended college at Rochester Community College and Mankato State University where she earned her degree in education. She earned her master’s degree in Education and her Special Education Directors License from St. Cloud State University. Julie was inspired to walk this path by her brother Gary, who had special needs. She wanted to see more opportunities for students in special education.

Julie’s professional career consisted of curriculum director at Trinity Lutheran in Owatonna, preschool teacher at Associated Church, and she served as a special education teacher at Willow Creek Elementary and Owatonna Junior High School. She was also the Owatonna ALC Director and Special Education Director for Austin, Waseca, NRHEG, JWP, TEAM Academy, and Medford. She retired in 2016 but still worked as an MTAS monitor for MDE.

Julie married William (Bill) Ladwig, her best friend, on June 19, 1976. She was excited for their 50th wedding anniversary celebration on June 19th, 2026, and had already begun planning.

Julie was proud of her professional accomplishments and even more so of her family. She enjoyed baking year-round, mostly at Christmas! Julie never missed cooking breakfast for her family at her cabin; a full course meal was served hot every day for all meals. She enjoyed fishing, cross-country skiing, traveling, her dogs, watching her grandkids, and most of all taking care of the ones she loved. She recently wrote, “I love my family. It is the most important thing to me.”

Their cabin on North Long Lake in Brainerd, MN was her happy place. Julie visited the Brainerd Lakes area her entire life with her parents, siblings, friends, husband, children, and grandchildren. Her grandchildren stayed with her most of the summer months at the cabin building fond memories.

Julie was proud of the family farm that she and her family restored and resided at, located in Hartland, MN. This fall she repainted the house with an aerial lift Bill bought for her.

Julie enjoyed going to her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and supporting them. She was also an avid Minnesota fan and enjoyed campfires at the cabin with grandkids and her loved ones.

Julie is survived by her husband Bill; children Jill Courtney (Kyle), Travis (Ryan Gillespie), Nate (Angela), Grandchildren, Liam Ladwig, Henry Ladwig, Bodie Ladwig, Hugh Courtney, Georgia Courtney; sisters Carol Cravath (Don), and Barb Roscoe. She was preceded in death by her parents Georgia (Mellang) and Clayton (Casey) Roscoe, and brother Gary Roscoe.

The Ladwig family would like to send a special thanks to the Crow Wing County and Freeborn County Sheriff's office for their help and professionalism.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be distributed to TEAM Academy (Waseca, MN), Ellendale Fire Department (Ellendale, MN), and Special Olympics of Iowa.

The memorial service was live-streamed, and can be watched below.