Julie Anna Holtan |
| Posted 2014-08-29 by Sharla |
| The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 08/29/2014 Julie Holtan, 46, of Forest City, formerly of Thor, Iowa, died Aug. 23, 2014, at the Paul Baber Hospice House in Fort Dodge. Julie Anna was born Dec. 20, 1967, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was lovingly welcomed into the home of Roger and Lois Holtan, brothers Randy and Scott and sister Maria in January 1968. She attended school at Eagle Grove, graduating in 1986. She received her Associates of Arts degree from Waldorf College in Forest City, transferring to South Florida University. She completed her bachelor’s degree in music at Wartburg College in Waverly and received her master’s degree in music from the University of Northern Iowa. Following her education, Julie became a performer, teacher, clinician and conductor in the United States, Europe and South America. Her most recent tours included numerous solo concert engagements in South America, guest soloist and conductor at the First International Conductor’s Convention in Brasilia, Brazil, and being chosen as a featured soloist in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve 2001. Some of her most recent stage appearances have been as Carmen in “Carmen,” Carlotta in “Phantom,” Prince Orlofsky in “Die Fledermaus,” Baba in “The Medium” and Golde in “Fiddler on the Roof.” She has also recently been seen in numerous oratorio productions, including Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” and “Stabat Mater,” Handel’s “Messiah,” Mozart’s “Requiem” and Bach’s “Magnificat.” Julie was also a featured soloist with several groups, including the Ames Choral Society, Des Moines Community Symphony, Fort Dodge Choral Society, Fort Dodge Symphony, Wartburg College Symphony Orchestra, Wartburg Choir and Wartburg Opera Theatre, University of Northern Iowa Concert Chorale, University Singers, Chamber Singers and UNI Lyric Opera Theatre, Grupo Coral e Musical Edelweiss and Grupo Instrumental Edelweiss (Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil), The Second City Players Opera Company in Atlanta, Ga.; the Northland Pioneer College Master Chorale and the White Mountain Symphony Orchestra. She was also the recipient of many awards and scholarships, including the Wartburg Meistersinger Vocal Award, Winner of the Wartburg Young Artist competition and a finalist in the Iowa National Teachers of Singing Competition. Julie studied voice with numerous renowned voice teachers. She served on the faculty at Northland Pioneer College of Eastern Arizona from 2007-2011 as the director of the Northland Master Chorale, developed the NPC Opera Theatre program and served as musical director for the theatre department performances. She also served as the primary voice instructor. Julie had been the owner/operator of Holtan Voice Studio since 1997 where she had the pleasure of teaching more than 230 students. On Dec. 29, 2007, she was united in marriage to A.J. Taylor at the Ullensvang Lutheran Church at Thor. She and A.J. made their homes in Snowflake, Taylor and Pinetop-Lakeside, Kansas City, Mo., and Forest City, Iowa. After a courageous battle with liver and renal failure in 2014, Julie passed away peacefully on the morning of Aug. 23. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, friends and students. Julie is survived by her husband, A.J. Taylor of Forest City, Iowa; father Roger Holtan of Thor, Iowa; stepdaughter Jonina Marie Taylor of Riverside, Mo.; brothers Randy (Linda) Holtan of Las Vegas, Nev., and Scott (Anne) Holtan of Coal Valley, Ill.; sister Maria (Kurt) Olson of Humboldt, Iowa; sister-in-law Kristin Jonina Taylor of Forest City, Iowa; aunts and uncles Mark and Shirley Holtan of Thor, Iowa, Tim Holtan and Dixie Long of Gilmore City, Iowa, John Omasich of Seattle, Wash., Bonnie Holtan of Holyoke, Maine, Robert Foster of Iowa City, Iowa, and Charlene Bakke of Muscatine, Iowa; nieces and nephews Craig (Lolly) Olson, Adam Olson (Megan Klinkradt), Alissa (Mike) Williamson, Brittany (Andy) Struecker, Cody and Connor Holtan and Ryan and Tyler Holtan; great-nieces Scarlett and Julia Olson; numerous cousins; and her beloved dachshunds, Ole and Opal. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Holtan; grandparents Halvor and Inger Bakke and Gilman and Edna Holtan; infant siblings Sara Louise, Angela Kaye and Thomas Scott Holtan; and her dachshunds, Oscar, Otto and Olga. Funeral services were held Aug. 27 at the Ullensvang Lutheran Church in Thor with the Rev. Darryl Landsverk and Rev. Chuck Latham officiating. Interment was held at East Ullensvang Cemetery in Thor. Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt, Iowa, handled arrangements. See Also: Find A Grave |
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