On Wednesday, November 8, 2006, after a pleasant walk and a hearty dinner, Julie Wyant died peacefully in her favorite chair watching the evening news. The child of Slovak immigrants, Julie lived her life keenly aware of her good fortune to be born in America. A strong love for family, country, and education guided her. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy, June 6, 1944, her nineteenth birthday, which ironically coincided with the D-Day invasion half a world away. After boot camp training as a Navy W.A.V.E. at Hunter College in New York City, she was stationed at Vero Beach, Florida where she worked in radar with new pilot training. There, in the control room, she met a young Marine, Charles (Bud) Wyant. They courted and were married in Vero Beach on February 24, 1945. He survives her. After the war, both took advantage of their G.I. Bill to attend Marquette University, while also raising a family, which would eventually grow to six children. When her youngest child started school, she too went back to school as a teacher of English at Washington and then Gilmore Junior Highs where she shared her passion for Shakespeare, literature, and the value of proper grammar with her students for nearly two decades. She initiated the “Crossing the Bridge” ceremony still used today as a commencement ceremony for middle school students. At age sixty she completed her M.S. in Education at Carthage College. After retirement in 1987, she and her husband traveled the world touching five continents with adventures from the Great Wall of China to the pyramids of Egypt, a “roughing it” safari in Africa, to the jungles of the Amazon, the beaches of Bora Bora, to the Outback of Australia. She and Bud were even luncheon guests of the Admiral aboard a nuclear submarine, the U.S.S. Buffalo in Pearl Harbor. They also participated in numerous elder hostels. Julie was all about education and life-long learning. Her last day of life she was learning the new names of the countries of Africa from her Zambian caregiver, Freida. Her last year she was host/”grandma”/teacher and mentor to Vova, a Moldovan college student. Julie also did volunteer work at the Healthcare Network and was an active member of the AAUW and St. Paul the Apostle Church until heart problems slowed her down. Her spirit and high expectations live on in her children of whom she was fiercely proud: Jud (Mary) Wyant, Jeanne (Jerry) Garchek both of Racine, Jamie (Susan) Wyant of Salem, OR, Jacalin (Kent) Sall of St. Paul, MN, Jill (Bob) Hayssen of Racine, Jeanette (Kenny) Wyatt of Asheville, NC; grandchildren, Beth (Brian) Eddy of Lexington, KY, Bridgette (Mike) Brandhuber of Washington, DC; Abby (Lee) Jaramillo of Racine, Toby Wyant of Chicago, Molly Wyant of Milwaukee, Peter Wyant of Madison, Rebecca (fiancé, Mike Berger) Dillard of St. Francis, Tyler Dillard of Tuscaloosa, AL, Liliana Sall of St. Paul, Luke Wyatt of Asheville, NC; special international adoptive grandchildren, Vova, Kanini, Nick and Tina; great grandchildren, Brynn, Brylee and Brennan Eddy, Jack Brandhuber, Jayce and Reese Jaramillo; sister, Marge Chovanec; brothers, Joe (Mary), Rudy (Dolores) Tony (Darlene), Bob and Bill Zemanovic; sister-in-law, Marge Lance and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Julia Zemanovic; sister, Wilma; brother, Stan Lance and grandchildren, Bridgette Jeanne and Thad Garchek. Family and friends are invited to meet at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Friday, November 17, 2006 at noon for the celebration of Julie’s life and funeral mass with Rev. William J. Dietzler officiating. There will be a visitation in the church from 11 until the time of the mass. Private burial with full military honors will take place at Holy Family Cemetery in Racine. Memorials may be made to the Home Healthcare Network or Maryknoll Missions. Thank you to the hospice program which allowed her to die quietly at home, the staff of the heart unit at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care who again and again provided such gentle care for her during numerous visits, and her friend, Ellen Huck who kept her actively involved in life.
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