It is with a spirited twinkle in our eyes, a warm smile on our faces, and a loving embrace in our hearts that we celebrate the life of Julie Anne Bratt, who was born on June 3, 1963, in Beatrice, NE, and passed away on November 4, 2023. She was a 1981 graduate of Beatrice High School. Julie was a compassionate soul who had an uncanny knack for making everyone around her feel special and loved. In the words of Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Julie lived by this philosophy, touching countless lives with her kindness and love.

Julie was a courageous woman, never shying away from a challenge, especially as she battled cancer. She was a dedicated employee at the Beatrice State Development Center for 38 years, where she brought the same level of commitment and passion that she did to every aspect of her life. Julie's spirited nature extended to her hobbies, which included reading, cross-stitch, watching her children and grandchildren grow and flourish, and, as she would often joke, "trying to keep Bill in line."  Her love for the theatre was evident through her active involvement with the Beatrice Community Players, where she wore many hats, from volunteer to actor, makeup director to stage manager. Her love for the stage was only surpassed by her love for her family. She was also an active volunteer and supporter of the Irreverent Warriors, and was always so proud to lift up and support our nation's troops.

Julie is survived by her husband, Bill Bratt, whom she married on June 14, 1985. She is also survived by her children, Alex (Claire) Bratt and Alyssa Bratt, her mother, Frances Maguire, her siblings, David Maguire, Michelle Waller, Annette Walker, and Darrell (Shelena) Maguire, and her granddaughters, Rowan and Everest Bratt. She is preceded in death by her father, Charles Maguire.

As per Julie's wishes, we will be celebrating her life in a light-hearted and joyful manner. The Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM on November 18, 2023 at St. John Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. Renae Koehler and Sharon Schuster officiating. The service will be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page. A family prayer service will begin at 10:45 AM. Visitation will be on November 17, 2023 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sons of the American Legion of Beatrice with the funeral home in charge.

In the spirit of Julie's love for sharing stories and laughter, we invite everybody to share their memories of her and upload photos to the memorial page at www.ghchapel.com. As we remember Julie, let us keep in mind a quote by Dr. Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Her love, laughter, and memory will be forever etched in our hearts and minds.