Julie Ann Wynia

Julie Ann (Zwart) Wynia, 67, Steen, MN, devoted wife of 47 years, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend to a multitude, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.
A visitation with the family present will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at Hawarden Christian Reformed Church in Hawarden, IA.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the Hawarden Christian Reformed Church in Hawarden, IA. The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/hawardencrc. Porter Funeral Home of Hawarden is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. Memorials will be designated at a later time by the family.

Julie was born on February 18, 1954, to Ed and Minnie (Swiers) Zwart of Hawarden, Iowa, the sixth child and first girl after her five older brothers. She grew up on the farm and attended Western Christian School. On October 4, 1974, she married Louis Wynia, a marriage 47 years long at the time of her passing. She had three children: Jason (1975), Timothy (1978), and Mindi (1983) and considered her family along with her faith to be the core of her life.
She lived in and touched communities in several places over the years, from where she grew up, in NW Iowa, to the west central MN towns of Pennock, Spicer and New London, to the north woods of Onamia, MN, and eventually back closer to where she grew up in Steen, MN. She loved extending hospitality to any and all around her, wherever she was, both in opening her home and in always having food and drink to share.
Crafty in life, the kitchen, and even in her approach to humor, she never failed at what she chose to do. Her life was an example of compassion, support, and forgiveness to anyone who experienced time with her. She worked with computers when they were a dream on the horizon for most and managed the logistics not just of the home, but of several family businesses along the way.
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she worked with her husband Lou to raise and guide multiple generations of capable, caring people, who have carried her skills and approach to life into their own families.
Her faith shined bright, showing the light of Jesus Christ to multitudes of people everywhere she went, through her words, but more importantly, through her actions. One of her most enduring passions was gospel music, expressed by playing piano with a vigor none who saw or heard it would ever forget. That love of music was passed on to all of her children, all of whom play music into adulthood.
On October 19, 2021, in a hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by family, she took her last breath after a multi-week battle with the effects of the COVID-19 virus, complicated by other health problems, and found peace from her earthly struggles. Her legacy of knowledge, emotional reason, fortitude, humor, practicality, caring, and faith in Christ is truly one to emulate.
She is survived by her loving husband, Louis; three children: Jason (and Shelly) Wynia of Coon Rapids, MN, Timothy (and Shannon) Wynia of West Fargo, ND, Mindi (and Jacob) Weinberg of LeMars, IA. She was blessed with 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is survived by her beloved siblings: Ronald, Verlyn, Merlin, and Gerald Zwart. She is also survived by many extended family members whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Minnie, her in-laws Louis and Hermina Wynia, her brother Delbert, her sister-in-law Loretta Wynia, her sister-in-law Ruth Zwart, her niece Kyla Wynia, her son-in-law Jason Jackes, her grand-nephew Timothy and several of her dearest friends.